Luca Del Bel Belluz is the most NHL ready prospect in the system.
There are more highly touted prospects in the Blue Jackets organization. But, none of them are closer to the NHL than Luca Del Bel Belluz.
At this point, we should be more surprised if he's not on an NHL roster next fall. The only question I have here is, will that be with the Blue Jackets, or will he be part of a trade package to upgrade their roster elsewhere?
There is nothing left for Luca to prove in the American Hockey League. This season, he led the Monsters in scoring by 9 points, despite playing in 4 fewer games than the second place player (Pyyhtia), and 13 fewer games than the player who finished in third place (Luca Pinelli).
He led the team in goals, assists, and points; while only taking one minor penalty all season. He also led the team in power-play goals (9), then doubled down and tied for the team lead in scoring with 7 points (6 assists) in 9 playoff games.
Originally picked by the Blue Jackets in the second round (#44 overall) at the 2022 NHL Draft, he has quietly rounded out his game to the point where I'm confident enough in saying that he's ready to play in the middle six. There's only one problem: there aren't any obvious openings in Columbus.
With Adam Fantilli, Sean Monahan, and now Charlie Coyle all set to play here for the long-term; Del Bel Belluz does not have a clear path to the NHL. They could move him to the wing, which is easier to do than moving from wing to center; but even then the roster spot looks to be distant at best.
Luca still has one year left on his ELC, which, combined with his production, leaves his value through the roof. I think he's a prime candidate to be part of a trade package this summer, as he's exactly the kind of prospect teams salivate over when trading away from their roster core.
That value may never be higher than it is right now. The center market is noticeably thin this summer, so it's not impossible to think that the Blue Jackets could be sitting on a bit of a unicorn here.
Of course, it's also possible that the team makes a deal to send out a player and create a job for Luca. We'll see. One thing that is certain: nobody knows him as well as the Blue Jackets, so whatever happens with him this summer could be very telling about his future.
Guillaume Richard is the dark horse.
The most NHL ready prospect on defense is an unexpected name. I think there's a greater chance of Guillaume Richard being on the opening night roster for the Blue Jackets, than any other blue line prospect in the organization.
My reasoning is very simple: this guy can defend.
Taken by the Blue Jackets in the fourth round (#101 overall) at the 2021 NHL Draft, Richard has lurked quietly in the system for five years. Now, he has one season of AHL hockey under his belt-one where he immediately became a top pairing guy.
He played in 70 of the team's 72 games, scoring 7 goals and 18 points; while leading the Monsters with an impressive +20 rating. On most nights, he and partner Dysin Mayo were tasked with playing the heavy minutes against the toughest competition. Guillaume passed the test.
We were not surprised. Here a U&B, we have long been fans of Richard's game. He's an intellgent player who skates very well, while understanding the nuances of playing defense. Whether it's gap control, board battles, or defensive zone reads; this guy gets it.
The Blue Jackets have been searching for a shutdown defenseman, and I think they can ill afford to overlook Richard at this point. He's 23 years old, and should be well on their radar for a job next season. With Trent Vogelhuber reportedly joining the coaching staff, I have a feeling Guillaume will come highly recommended.
It's going to be an interesting summer in Columbus. This is the first time in a long time that the team does not have any glaring job openings. Maybe the first time in franchise history. It will be tough for any of these guys to make the cut, but not impossible.
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