James Malatesta could be a bottom of the lineup option.
On a similar timeline to del bel Belluz is James Malatesta, who is entering his third full season as a pro. He is a vastly different type of player who projects into more of a bottom of the lineup role, however.
After winning the Guy Lafleur trophy (QMJHL playoff MVP) as a 19 year old, Malatesta turned pro for the 2023-24 season and didn't skip a beat. He got into 56 AHL games with the Cleveland Monsters, scoring 12 goals and 22 points.
Where he really turned heads that year was at the NHL level. As the injuries mounted and the Blue Jackets searched high and low for players to finish out their season, it was the unheralded former 5th round pick who stepped in and finished strong. Affectionately coined "Jimmy" by his teammates, Malatesta finished strong with the Blue Jackets, scoring 2 goals and 4 points in his 11 game stint in Columbus.
This strong finish launched him even further up our own radar, and we even thought he had an outside chance of cracking the CBJ lineup out of camp last season. Wisely, however, Waddell and his staff insulated Jimmy and allowed him to spend all but two games back in Cleveland last year. Again, they put a plan in place to help a young player continue to develop.
Unfortunately, he suffered some setbacks in 2024-25, most notably an undisclosed upper body injury that kept him out of the lineup until March. As a result, his numbers were down year over year: 41gp, 8g, 14pts.
Again this summer, the CBJ brass decided to fill out their roster with some veterans; adding Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle to the mix. They also brought back former Monsters captain Brendan Gaunce, who should be a regular go-between if the Jackets need another bottom-six player. This means that Malatesta is likely to spend most of the year in Cleveland again.
Still, like del bel Belluz, a hot start to his year could gain him favor within the system and earn him another look in the NHL this season. I would like to see him rediscover his goal scoring magic that earned him that playoff MVP award in his last junior season, while continuing to be an absolute menace on the ice.
If the Jackets need someone who can chip in secondary offense and get under the opponent's skin, this is the guy to do it. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Matt Calvert at the same age. Hopefully, allowing Jimmy to simmer a little longer will open up a little bit more offense and they'll have an NHL player here.
On the next slide, we'll look at a couple of blue line prospects who could be forced into NHL duty this season.