The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2025 NHL Entry Draft with a pick in each round. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will profile a different prospect who the Canucks could take with each of their picks. Today's prospect is Kitchener Rangers center Luca Romano, who Vancouver could select 47th overall.
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Romano is an intriguing prospect who could help improve the Canucks center depth. Listed at 5'11", 177lbs, the right-shot center hit the 25-goal mark this past season, which ranked tied for seventh among draft-eligible players in the OHL. Romano also added 11 points in 16 playoff games, helping the Rangers make it all the way to the Western Conference Championship.
The best way to describe Romano is two-way center who has an impact in all three zones. He is a strong skater, which allowed him to transition the puck past the defensive blue line and into the offensive zone. Overall, Romano is a very confident puck carrier, and has shown an ability to beat defenders one on one to create scoring chances.
A notable attribute of Romano is how active he is on the ice. He engages in board battles, forechecks hard, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get loose pucks. Romano is also not afraid to engage in net-front battles against bigger defensemen and tends to get under the skin of his opponents.
In the defensive zone, Romano has an active stick and understands where he needs to be positionally to break up passes. He was continually used on the penalty kill and scored his first shorthanded goal in the OHL earlier this season. Just like in the offensive zone, Romano wins board battles at a high rate and understands how to position himself properly along the wall to prevent loose pucks from bouncing into scoring positions.
Ultimately, Romano's attributes translate well to the pro game. He has good speed, is positionally sound, and possesses strong puck-handling skills. Romano also fills a need, which is why he would be a smart second-round selection for Vancouver.
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