Blue Jackets choose Russian with No. 6 overall selection

Blue Jackets choose Russian with No. 6 overall selection

Columbus also traded its other first round pick for a former OSU standout.

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets selected a Russian with the No. 6 pick in the first round of the NHL draft on Friday night, but not before they traded for someone from a lot closer to home.

Moments before taking left wing Nikita Filatov in the first round of the draft in Ottawa, the Blue Jackets traded for former Ohio State player R.J. Umberger.

The announcement of the trade was met by raucous cheers at the team’s draft party at a suburban Columbus restaurant.

“That’s awesome!” Umberger, who played for the Buckeyes from 2000-2003, said when told of the fans’ reaction.

Umberger’s acquisition from the Philadelphia Flyers gives the Blue Jackets a much-needed center.

Umberger, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder, is coming off a great season, capped by a superlative performance in the playoffs as the Flyers went all the way to the Eastern Conference finals before falling to Pittsburgh.

He had 13 goals and 37 assists for 50 points in 74 games, then topped that with a team-best 10 goals to go with five assists in 17 postseason games.

“I’m definitely a little surprised,” he said by telephone.

“I knew this was going to be an interesting summer and I knew a lot was going to happen this weekend because of the Flyers’ salary-cap situation and everything. I’m surprised it was me leaving but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go back to Columbus.”

Columbus had two first-round picks in the draft, No. 6 overall and the No. 19 pick they received for dealing captain Adam Foote to Colorado at the trading deadline.

There had been speculation for weeks that general manager Scott Howson might deal one or both of the picks to get a top-line center.

The only veteran centers under contract with the Blue Jackets are Manny Malhotra, Dan Fritsche and Jiri Novotny.

As the first few picks progressed, it became apparent that Howson wasn’t going to part with his top pick.

While they were on the clock to make that selection, the team announced the trade for Umberger. Columbus sent the No. 19 pick and also its third-round pick, which was No. 67, to Philadelphia.

The Blue Jackets will also receive the Flyers’ fourth-round pick, No. 118 overall.

Umberger had played for Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock for parts of two seasons with the Flyers.

Umberger, 26, said he didn’t feel any more pressure coming to Columbus because of his Ohio State background.

“I don’t think everything is depending on me,” he said.

“They’re bringing in a lot of guys in an attempt to get into the playoffs. I like challenges. I wanted more minutes, I wanted a bigger role. We had a lot of good young players and a bright future with Philadelphia. But I’m looking forward to being a Blue Jacket.”