🏒 Luca Del Bel Belluz C

Luca Del Bel Belluz has emerged as an intriguing young center for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024-25, showing promising development in his first extended NHL opportunity. Del Bel Belluz has translated his offensive skills to the NHL level with 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists) in his first 15 games with Columbus.

In the AHL, Del Bel Belluz's stellar performance with the Cleveland Monsters (17 goals, 20 assists in 34 games as of recall) earned him a spot on the North Division All-Star team, showcasing his readiness for NHL competition. His point-per-game pace at the AHL level (1.09) positioned him among the league's top young scorers before his NHL promotion.

The 21-year-old center's Complete Offensive Impact (COI) metric of 0.785 indicates a positive offensive contribution, particularly noteworthy for a rookie. His offensive component (3.3 Off GAR) suggests strong even-strength play, though his slightly negative penalty differential (-0.4 penalties drawn vs 0.4 taken) indicates room for improvement in creating power play opportunities. Del Bel Belluz has demonstrated responsible two-way play with a +2 rating while averaging 13.8 minutes per game. The 2022 second-round pick (44th overall) has shown particular effectiveness in puck distribution, with his six assists highlighting the playmaking abilities that made him a standout prospect. His shooting percentage of 11.1% on 18 shots demonstrates efficient finishing ability when opportunities arise. His face-off percentage of 43.0% shows typical rookie adjustment to NHL-level competition, but his disciplined play (zero penalty minutes) reflects strong decision-making and positioning awareness.

Key Takeaway: His combination of offensive instincts and responsible defensive play, coupled with zero penalty minutes, indicates a mature approach that should serve him well as he continues to develop under head coach Dean Evason's system. Del Bel Belluz's successful transition from AHL All-Star to productive NHL center suggests he could develop into a reliable middle-six forward for the Blue Jackets.