COLUMBUS – William Whitelaw’s path to the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets no longer leads via the University of Wisconsin.
He was selected in the third round (No. 66) of the 2023 NHL Draft, but his path took him on a circuitous route to a place familiar to many Blue Jackets after the 19-year-old center prospect transferred for his sophomore season in hopes of eventually becoming another member of the Michigan-Columbus pipeline.
“All the guys in Wisconsin were incredible,” Whitelaw said at the Blue Jackets’ development camp last month. “Great guys. The teammates were incredible.”
“But I think on the hockey side, going to the NHL wasn’t really what I wanted or needed, so ultimately I had to make that decision. And it was a really tough decision, but I think it was the right one for me.”
Rick Nash, Columbus’ director of player development, said the organization has not tried to influence Whitelaw one way or the other.
“Making decisions about where he should play is not important to us because we will support him no matter where he goes,” Nash said. “The final decision is up to his camp, but I have been his sounding board to guide him through his play on the ice.”
“I got to know William last year and found him to be a really passionate kid who loves hockey and plays a high-level game.”
Whitelaw scored 17 points (10 goals, 7 assists) in 37 games for Wisconsin last season, but the chance to play for a perennial NCAA team and Michigan coach Brandon Naurato’s reputation for developing players for the NHL proved to be deciding factors.
“I like the way Nauroto leads his team,” Whitelaw said. “He teaches the guys how to be better on offense, but also how to play on the other side of the puck.”
“When you go to Michigan, you compete for the national championship every year, and I like that.”
It also doesn’t hurt that since the 2021-22 season, four former Michigan players – centers Kent Johnson, Gavin Brindley and Adam Fantilli and defenseman Nick Blankenburg – each made their debut for the Blue Jackets. Blankenburg signed with the Nashville Predators on July 1, but the others remain in Columbus alongside experienced ex-Michigan defensemen Jack Johnson and Zach Werenski.
Whitelaw said he knew what he needed to work on to follow them.
“My defensive side of the puck,” he said. “I think I’m pretty gifted offensively, but I want to continue to get better defensively if I want to play in the NHL.”
Because of his size (1.75 m, 79 kg) there will be doubters, but Whitelaw cites Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand (1.75 m, 80 kg), Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield (1.73 m, 80 kg) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (1.78 m, 80 kg) as role models.
“I hear that all the time,” Whitelaw said. “When I was 14, I was 5’1″ and I would hear them say, ‘Oh, he’s too short,’ and every year I would just keep going. It doesn’t bother me.”
