The Blue Jackets prospect pipeline is loaded with talented players. As a result, many people have overlooked Luca del bel Belluz due to the depth of the prospect pipeline. After his short stint in Columbus, more people are taking notice of the young forward.
Luca was recalled from the Cleveland Monsters on January 8th, 2025, when a slew of injuries hit the forwards. At the time of his recall, del bel Belluz was the #1 center in Cleveland and was one of the top scorers in the AHL. While no one expected him to put up significant numbers in Columbus, the hope was that he could assist in keeping the offense afloat while multiple forwards were on the mend. He did just that.
LDBB anchored the center position on the 2nd line during his stint in Columbus. He started with 4 points in his first 4 games. He finished with 8 points in a total of 15 games (around 0.53 points/game), which is more than most expected. He showed that he can play in the NHL and has a knack for scoring.
When the team got healthier, he was sent back to Cleveland on February 8th, 2025. This was primarily due to numbers, as multiple forwards returned from injury. But the other part was his place in the lineup. Management wanted del bel Belluz to be playing in a top 6 role and be playing significant minutes. With multiple players returning from injury, he would have been relegated to the third or fourth line. That was not ideal for his development. So, the CBJ sent him back to Cleveland for the remainder of the season.
While del bel Belluz opened many eyes in his short time in Columbus, he also showed that he needed to improve in some facets of the game. First, he needs to get bigger and stronger. Second, he needs to improve in the faceoff circle, as he had an average of 40% in the NHL. Not a bad average for a rookie, but it must improve.
Luca is still under contract through the 2026-2027 campaign. He is still on his entry level contract and can play either in Columbus or Cleveland. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the big club next season. However, it’s possible that management elects to keep him in Cleveland another season for further development. He likely will be a frequent call-up next season and be expected to contribute to the offense. Either way, I suspect he will be a full-time NHL player at the conclusion of his current contract.
Final season stats: 15 games played, 2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points, 0 PIM, +2, 18 shots on goal, Overall grade: B+
Luca del bel Belluz played well in his short time with the CBJ. He still needs to get stronger. But his future looks bright, and the 5th Line should expect to see him in union blue in the not-so-distant future. He doesn’t receive an A because his time with the big club was limited.