Blue Jackets prospect watch, Luca Pinelli starts off red hot in the OHL

Luca Pinelli has started off red hot for the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67s this season, finding the scoresheet in each of his first four games. Quietly, the undersized center is an intriguing prospect within the Blue Jackets system.

Not eligible to play in the AHL this season due to his age (19), Pinelli either had to make the NHL roster; or return to the OHL this season. Even though he had a pretty solid camp, it was obvious that he was destined for another year in Ottawa this season. That's what is best for his development.

It's rare for players picked outside of the top-10 or 15 picks to play in the NHL as teenagers. It's even more rare for players picked outside of the first or second round. Pinelli was picked by the Jackets in the fourth round (#114 overall) at the 2023 Draft.

So, instead of keeping him around too long during training camp, the Jackets sent him back early to get his footing ahead of what should be a dominant OHL campaign. He has not disappointed.

Through 4 games, Pinelli has a clean 2 points-per-game average; with 5 goals and 3 assists. He's found the scoresheet in every game, including a hat-trick and four point night in his third game of the season. Perhaps most impressive is his 20 shots on goal in those four games - a sign that his scoring is not happening by pure luck.

I don't think Luca would have it any other way. He brings his time card to the rink and clocks into every game ready to go to work. He's a scrappy competitor who goes to the hard areas and competes, in spite of his 5'9", 170 pound frame. His competitiveness and work ethic are what shapes him as a player. He doesn't take no for an answer, and keeps grinding until he gets the job done. Then, just for fun, he goes right back to work on the next shift.

While I don't expect him to average two points per game for the entire season, I do think we can expect him to be amongst the league leaders in scoring by the end of the year. I also think he'll be on Team Canada's radar for the World Junior Championships this season, as a depth scoring option.

I'll be watching him closely this year, because Pinelli is a sneaky prospect within this system. He'll play in the NHL at some point, but I do think the correct path for him is the slow one. Let him keep scoring in droves while rounding out the finer areas of his game. By the time it's all said and done, he could be a nice middle-six player for the Blue Jackets in just a couple of years.