Thank you to the 70 readers who voted in this year’s countdown of the 25 best players in the Columbus Blue Jackets system under the age of 25. Today we continue with #13:
#13 Luca Pinelli
Voting
13th out of 40
Total Points: 1054
Average Placement: 14.845
Last Year: 21st (+8 difference)
Biography
Birthdate: April 5, 2005
Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 168 lbs
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Acquired: Drafted in Round 4 (#114 overall) by Columbus in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft
2024-25 Season
Today we profile the first of three Lucae in these rankings, and the player who saw the biggest year-over-year improvement in the reader poll. Looking at the numbers, it’s not hard to see why. Pinelli recorded 37/34/71 in 52 games in his fourth and final season with the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL. He missed some time because he got to play with Team Canada in the World Junior Championships. It was a disappointing result for Canada, but Pinelli recorded 1/1/2 in 5 games and was +3.
When his junior season ended, he got to begin his pro career with the Cleveland Monsters, where he recorded two assists in three regular season games, followed by 2/2/4 in 6 playoff games (including an OT winner against the Toronto Marlies), with a positive rating in both sets of games.
2025-26 Outlook
At surface level, Pinelli reminds me of Trey Fix-Wolansky. TFW was also an undersized forward who nevertheless produced points at a high rate at every level. In six seasons, he set Monsters franchise records for goals, assists, and points. But he was never able to stick on the Columbus roster for more than a few weeks at a time.
A few factors suggest that Pinelli has a higher ceiling, however. First, he is listed as a two inches taller. He’s still shorter than average (and also lighter than TFW) but there are more chances for 5’9″ forwards in the NHL these days. Second, he can play center, and the fact that he consistently has a positive +/- suggests that he can contribute as a 200 foot forward. Finally, TFW was a playmaking winger but Pinelli has shown that he can score goals at a steady rate.