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

[GoJackets1]

Posted this in the game thread but figured I’d post it here as well, because I’m excited for this guy.

LDBB might be one of those guys whose style just… fits the NHL. He was a good juniors player obviously, but I thought we’d be lucky if he ended up as more than a 40 point player if he even made much of an impact in the NHL at all. But now watching him, I think his ceiling could be closer to a 60-70 point player if he keeps up this development pace.

He just seems to get it. Where to be on the ice, what plays to make, how to use his body, etc

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Posted this in the game thread but figured I’d post it here as well, because I’m excited for this guy.

LDBB might be one of those guys whose style just… fits the NHL. He was a good juniors player obviously, but I thought we’d be lucky if he ended up as more than a 40 point player if he even made much of an impact in the NHL at all. But now watching him, I think his ceiling could be closer to a 60-70 point player if he keeps up this development pace.

He just seems to get it. Where to be on the ice, what plays to make, how to use his body, etc

We'll see how it holds up once a scouting reports gets around the league on him and people learn how to defend him.

 

[Napoli]

Del Bel now with Olivier and ZAR, Evason pretty quick to forget his good thinking.

Cole Sillinger was doing nothing with JVR and KJ so I don't get why they're going back to that, they just had their best game in a long time with Del Bel up the middle.

I mentioned this in the Blues GDT. Luca's line of JVR and KJ was the best of the night by a wide margin against the Kraken, it was disappointing to see Evason go back to "already formed line" of Sillinger, KJ and JVR. That line in general really doesn't produce, Cole is more of a grinder type that plays directly.

Hopefully Evason changes it back up and puts Luca back with KJ as I think there could be something there.

One thing we all have to give props to Dean on is giving this kid an actual chance to succeed by playing him in a similar position that he'd play in the AHL. 2nd PP time and he makes a great little pass to JVR that then fed Sillinger for the goal.

Ive noticed he makes a lot of great little plays down low. I saw a couple in the game against the Kraken too. He's similar to Voronkov in that regard, obviously not at his size and presence but how he's able to create space for his teammates. Let's see if he can keep it up.

 

[alphafox]

Looks to me like Luca has earned the right to stay, not sure who that bumps where but I'd much rather have LDBB centering KJ with Sillinger on the third line. Then maybe put LDBB on the wing when Monahan gets back you try Fantilli-KJ again or Fantilli Centering Sillinger. Good problem to have.

 

[Monk]

Looks to me like Luca has earned the right to stay, not sure who that bumps where but I'd much rather have LDBB centering KJ with Sillinger Centering Fantilli on the third line or maybe put LDBB on the wing when Monahan gets back. Good problem to have.

May mean something for Danforth's return which I thought was supposed to be around now

 

[Doggy]

Looks to me like Luca has earned the right to stay, not sure who that bumps where but I'd much rather have LDBB centering KJ with Sillinger Centering Fantilli on the third line or maybe put LDBB on the wing when Monahan gets back. Good problem to have.

Am I reading this right, you want to see Fantilli on the third line wing?

 

[alphafox]

Am I reading this right, you want to see Fantilli on the third line wing?

No, bad communication and I tried to make the original post clearer. Ideal when Monahan Gets back would actually be

Vronk-Monahan-Marchenko
LDBB-Fantilli-KJ
ZAR-Sillinger-Olivier
or
Vronk-Monahan-Marchenko
ZAR-LDBB-KJ
Sillinger-Fantilli-Olivier

 

[MoeBartoli]

No, bad communication and I tried to make the original post clearer. Ideal when Monahan Gets back would actually be

Vronk-Monahan-Marchenko
LDBB-Fantilli-KJ
ZAR-Sillinger-Olivier
or
Vronk-Monahan-Marchenko
ZAR-LDBB-KJ
Sillinger-Fantilli-Olivier

ZAR is a 4th liner. OK there, but nothing more

 

[stevo61]

ZAR is a 4th liner. OK there, but nothing more

4th liners can go on hot streaks and play higher in the lineup on occasion. See Eric Robinson

 

[MoeBartoli]

4th liners can go on hot streaks and play higher in the lineup on occasion. See Eric Robinson

I’ll be excited to see him go on a streak I’ve yet to see.

 

[stevo61]

I’ll be excited to see him go on a streak I’ve yet to see.

That was mostly bait for major

 

[alphafox]

ZAR is a 4th liner. OK there, but nothing more

I agree, he just seems to be who we have. I'm fine with JVR, And am happy to kick a bunch of people down if we get Chinakov & Jenner back or decide Brindley is ready for the show. I think the key is finding who works with fantilli, who works with KJ, How much do we lose with Fantilli vs Monahan vs LDBB centering different wingers. This team has a ton of chemistry testing to do to unlock another level or two even without getting into anything like trades.