Luca Del Bel Belluz

July 2022 – The Columbus Blue Jackets have selected Del Bel Belluz in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, 44th overall. Nick Richard

March 2022 – Del Bel Belluz has been having an impressive season so far for the Mississauga Steelheads, using his powerful shot, his high-end vision and his slick hands to score 26 goals and 38 assists for 64 points in 51 games. This places him second on the team in goals and points, while sitting first in assists on the squad so far.

Although his offensive tools and his toolkit are already refined, the center’s skating mechanics hold him back from blowing past players wide, though he can still pick up some speed with enough space ahead of him. Changes of direction and lateral mobility don’t come naturally to Del Bel Belluz due to sub-par ankle flexion and a tendency to flare his legs out in an A shape when carrying the puck, which can occasionally make him lose his balance. He can also lose puck battles against players his size or smaller, due to a lack of upper-body strength.

All in all, most of the improvements in this prospect’s game need to come in areas that aren’t the most difficult to rectify. Skating can be tweaked, muscle can be built (especially on a projectable 6-foot-1 frame), but the mental elements of Del Bel Belluz’s game are above-average at worst. He understands the game very well, and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if he’s off the board near the end of the first round. Hadi Kalakeche