It's almost officially time for training camp. As we enter September, there's no better time take a look at your favorite team's prospect pool and get yourself overly invested in late draft picks, fringe players, and long shots that are only a team injury or two away from being called into NHL action. One particularly interesting player to watch this preseason will be CBJ's Luca Pinelli.
Pinelli, a 21-year-old 4th round pick in 2023, is a player who fell just inside the top ten of our offseason Blue Jackets prospect ranking at spot #9. The Stoney Creek, Ontario native has been a quiet yet very effective member of the organization is his young career, and more than earned that ranking with how he's performed thus far.
While he made his AHL debut at the tail end of the 2024-25 season, last year was his first full pro hockey campaign. Appearing in 68 games for the Cleveland Monsters, he made his mark by finishing third in team scoring (first among rookies), notching 14 goals and 32 assists for 46 points.
His production was impressive enough to get called up early in the season when the Jackets were dealing with injuries up front, where he made his NHL debut at just 20 years old. His stint was short, lasting just 3 games, and he'll have to wait a little longer to find his first NHL point, but it was valuable experience nontheless.
Standing at 5'9" 175lbs, Pinelli still has room to grow and put on more bulk as he develops. But what he lacks in pure size he makes up for in grit and tenacity. He proved to be a coachable and hard-working asset in his first full-year.
A feisty presence that isn't afraid of corner battles or bigger opponents. Enough so to fearlessly drop the gloves with William Lagesson (6'1" 210lbs) in March last year. He has shown he can be a very valuable pest at times, getting under the skin of defenders with this work ethic.
That being said, Pinelli is most likely a year or two away from significant NHL impact. He finds himself in the mix with other forwards like Mikael Pyyhtia, Luca Del Bel Belluz, and Jack Williams. Each of them will be eager to get their shot to break into the squad this year and find stability at the top level. However, what makes Pinelli stand out (even in a system that features two other young Canadian players named Luca) is how ahead of schedule he is.
At 21 years old, he remains one of the youngest players we have signed to a contract, and in just one season on a professional deal, he was able to secure himself a top line role in Cleveland, as well as his NHL debut with Columbus.
I expect him to find his way back to the NHL soon. Whether he gets his next chance this year remains to be seen. Regardless, his development is going great, and I expect him to shoot up our prospect rankings again next offseason.
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