Prospect Info: Luca Del Bel Belluz, 2nd round 2022 draft, #44

[CBJWerenski8]

Have to say I was never that high on the prospect, but he’s been proving me way wrong with his play this year. I’m impressed. I think he’s got 2nd line ceiling but could easily settle into a jack of all trades 3rd liner who pitches in offensively. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[majormajor]

what do we think his ceiling is?

Stankoven/Pelletier/Peterka had similar numbers before making the jump. Then again, Bemstrom and TFW are scoring a bunch too.

I'm not sure if you've noticed but that is a very smallish comparison group. Del Bel is more average sized. But I also don't see anything Stankoven / Peterka level from him as far as hockey sense. Those two are special. My guess is that Del Bel will be a good 2nd line winger, but I don't put a lot of weight on that guess. I'll have to re-evaluate after another Cleveland playoff run.

 

[DankoCBJ]

His point production has been impressive, but there is some concerns about his intensity, battling, play off the puck etc. Things you need to impress Evason.. He might be too soft and disengaged to make it in the NHL. I hope he proves me wrong though!

 

[Cowumbus]

His point production has been impressive, but there is some concerns about his intensity, battling, play off the puck etc. Things you need to impress Evason.. He might be too soft and disengaged to make it in the NHL. I hope he proves me wrong though!

Where did you see that at?

He’s a team best +9, which might suggest his play off the puck has improved.

 

[DankoCBJ]

Where did you see that at?

He’s a team best +9, which might suggest his play off the puck has improved.

I have read a couple of game reviews and tried to watch some games via streams myself. So nothing official, just my opinion.

 

[frederixx]

His point production has been impressive, but there is some concerns about his intensity, battling, play off the puck etc. Things you need to impress Evason.. He might be too soft and disengaged to make it in the NHL. I hope he proves me wrong though!

Not so sure.

It’s not as if the Blue Jackets haven’t thought about recalling Del Bel Belluz. Coach Dean Evason was surprisingly frank when asked about him on Friday.

“He’s playing great, obviously,” Evason said. “We had a good chat about him the other day, that if we’re in a spot (where we need a forward), he deserves — he has earned — the right to be here. We just don’t have a spot at this point.

“(Coach) Trent (Vogelhuber) has told us he’s doing all the right things in his development and playing extremely well, not only offensively — you can see the numbers — but he’s doing the right things defensively, as well.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6038557/2025/01/05/blue-jackets-nhl-prospect-del-bel-belluz/?redirected=1

But he's obviously behind Monahan, Fantilli and Sillinger ATM

Being the top scorer in the entire AHL at his age is still quite impressive.

 

[alphafox]

Not so sure.

It’s not as if the Blue Jackets haven’t thought about recalling Del Bel Belluz. Coach Dean Evason was surprisingly frank when asked about him on Friday.

“He’s playing great, obviously,” Evason said. “We had a good chat about him the other day, that if we’re in a spot (where we need a forward), he deserves — he has earned — the right to be here. We just don’t have a spot at this point.

“(Coach) Trent (Vogelhuber) has told us he’s doing all the right things in his development and playing extremely well, not only offensively — you can see the numbers — but he’s doing the right things defensively, as well.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6038557/2025/01/05/blue-jackets-nhl-prospect-del-bel-belluz/?redirected=1

But he's obviously behind Monahan, Fantilli and Sillinger ATM

Being the top scorer in the entire AHL at his age is still quite impressive.

I really do wonder if he sees time on Wing after a JVR trade. We can eat half of JVR's salary without issue and then you pair him with fantilli and Jenner on a third line.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

I really do wonder if he sees time on Wing after a JVR trade. We can eat half of JVR's salary without issue and then you pair him with fantilli and Jenner on a third line.

fun fact: we actually can't retain half of JVR's contract because he doesn't make enough money lol

he's on a 900k contract and the league minimum is 775k. so at most we could retain 125k. but that won't be necessary anyway because cap space is prorated and the retention slot itself is too valuable to waste on that kind of a move.

 

[stevo61]

Have barely watched the mMonsters this year (maybe 4 or 5 periods) but LDBB is pretty noticeable in the small amount I have watched for the right reasons. For awhile I assumed his production was mostly based on having 2 well known AHL scorers but the kid looks like his pulling his own weight just fine

 

[Xoggz22]

May be getting his chance if Monahan is out at all. Granted they could move Voronkov to Center but until Jenner or Danforth returns, there aren't a lot of other options to play in the middle. Could have him lower in lineup. This is where the depth will get tested. Hopefully nothing serious for Monny!