Between now and the start of camp we will finish our Top 25 Under 25 countdown. Thanks to the 74 readers who submitted ballots in this year’s ranking of Columbus Blue Jackets players and prospects under the age of 25.
Ceulemans played his first full pro season in 2023-24. In 47 games with the Cleveland Monsters, he scored 3 goals and 9 assists.
In the Calder Cup Playoffs, however, Ceulemans was not one of 10 defensemen to see action for the Monsters.
2024-25 Outlook
The good news for Ceulemans: of those 10 defensemen above him on last season’s depth chart, many are no longer in the organization, including Marcus Bjork, Jakub Zboril, Billy Sweezey, and Nick Blankenburg. Fellow righty David Jiricek is likely to spend the majority of the season in Columbus. If Ceulemans can’t earn top pair minutes in Cleveland now, when will he?
As for his opportunity to crack the NHL roster, Ceulemans is blocked by Jiricek and Damon Severson under team control for a long time on the right side. Erik Gudbranson has two years left on his contract, and newly acquired Jordan Harris is a left-handed shot who has experience playing on both sides.
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