Centers take a while to develop. It’s the hardest position to learn in the American Hockey League (AHL) since it requires versatility and the ability to play alongside multiple wingers with different skill sets. Luca Del Bel Belluz is no exception.
Related: What Allowed The Cleveland Monsters to Turn Things Around?
It took time for Del Bel Belluz to develop, and in his second AHL season, he’s become a top player in the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect pool. With 13 goals and 25 assists in 34 games, he’s the best player on the Cleveland Monsters, and it’s a matter of time before he’s a regular in the NHL.
Del Bel Belluz Took The Long & Winding Road
Del Bel Belluz was a smaller player when he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL draft. It’s why he spent an extra season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to develop before he joined the Monsters last season.
“We got him at 20 years old, and we purposely sat him out games because he was so thin,” Monsters head coach Trent Vogelhuber mentioned in a conversation with Hockey Hot Stove. Del Bel Belluz had to put on muscle and become a more physical player to make it in the AHL, much less the NHL. “He’s put on 10 pounds of muscle since then,” Vogelhuber added.
It’s why he had flashes of brilliance with the Blue Jackets in each of the past two seasons. They saw a player with plenty of skill and the talent to eventually become an NHLer. The problem is his play wasn’t sustainable, so he’s still developing with the Monsters.
Where He Must Improve
The big thing for the 22-year-old center is to round out his game. He’s a skilled player and a top-line center. “The skills are there, the smarts are there. I’d like to see him add another 10 pounds, which will help him win those battles,” Vogelhuber noted about where Del Bel Bellus must improve, adding, “The next step is on the defensive side to hit, pin, and kill a little more consistently.” He must work on his play defensively and become that physical presence.
The plus is that the playmaking is there on the offensive end. He drives play and makes the players around him better, something many prospects struggle to do. It helps his case to join the NHL team in the near future because he can play on a second line and fit right in.
The reality is that Del Bel Belluz isn’t replacing Adam Fantilli on the top line, something Vogelhuber talked about. “That’s our message to the players that they aren’t replacing Zack Werenski and the forwards aren’t replacing Adam Fantilli or Kirill Marchenko on the forward spot or the half wall,” so it’s about carving out a spot on the second or third line. Del Bel Belluz is a good player but must prove he can do it all.
Why Del Bel Belluz is a Fascinating Part of The Blue Jackets Picture
When you look at the Blue Jackets forwards, it’s hard to see Del Bel Belluz replacing any of their centers. Fantilli leads the top line and if the future of the franchise, while Charlie Coyle is having a big season. With that in mind, he can maybe play on the third or fourth line but it’s a tough path for him.
The Blue Jackets are also winning and in a position to make the playoffs. Calling Del Bel Belluz up this season doesn’t make sense since it messes with their chemistry. Considering the Blue Jackets might be in a spot to buy at the trade deadline, it makes everyone wonder whether they’ll trade Del Bel Belluz to make a splash.
The reality is that Don Waddell might look to make a big move, and if he does, the prospect any team will ask for is Del Bel Belluz. He’s a top-six center to build around, so he’s the type of player they’ll trade to land a top-four defenseman or a scoring threat on the wing.
Until then, expect Del Bel Belluz to keep playing well and leading the Monsters to a strong rebound season. He might not break through this season but he’ll certainly be on an NHL team by next season with the way he’s playing.
