The Ottawa 67’s surprisingly held onto their captain, Luca Pinelli, last season, when the majority of the OHL thought they would’ve moved him before the January trade deadline. He finished the season first on the 67’s in goals (37), points (71), power play goals (15), power play points (27), game-winning goals (4), and shots on goal (258). Needless to say, he carried the brunt of Ottawa’s offense throughout his final year in the league. 

The 67’s didn’t make the playoffs, and Pinelli made his way to the AHL to make his professional hockey debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets’ farm team, the Cleveland Monsters. He recorded two assists in three AHL games to end the regular season, and impressed in six playoff games for the Monsters, with two goals and two assists. 

Pinelli is like a bee on the ice. He’s always buzzing around, moving nonstop, and frankly, being extremely annoying (what his opponents would say). His up-tempo playstyle and aggressiveness are suited for the NHL. Columbus ran into a few injuries up at forward, and the opportunity for the Stoney Creek, Ontario, native to make his NHL debut was prompted. 

Pinelli made his debut on Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was immediately inserted into the Blue Jackets’ top-six playing alongside Sean Monahan and Cole Sillinger. He played 16:20 and didn’t look out of place one bit. 

Columbus Head Coach Dean Evason clearly trusted the 20-year-old, spotting him ice time on the second power play unit and even a few shifts in overtime. After the game, the coach offered some raving reviews of the young man. 

“Just his compete, What we thought maybe he wasn’t going to do, some puck battles and some wall play and getting pucks out. He did that and that gave us confidence to continue to play him in key situations at the end of that game and in a tie hockey game in an overtime. But he competes his butt off. So that is what we enjoyed and liked the most,” said Evason. 

Even Columbus Blue Jackets star centerman Adam Fantilli gave glowing remarks:

“It’s great to see. You love seeing him come up with confidence. He’s staying with me right now so I was just telling him, don’t even worry about your performance tonight. Just try and remember everything. Enjoy it. You only get one first game so I think he did that. He really enjoyed it. He played great. Everyone’s happy about it so it’s good to see,” said Fantilli. 

Fun fact, Adam Fantilli played minor hockey with Luca’s older brother Francesco Pinelli. The two were teammates on the U16 Toronto Red Wings during the 2018-19 season. Luca gets the bragging rights in the family to be the first to play in the NHL, while Francesco continues to develop in the Los Angeles Kings’ farm system with the Ontario Reign. 

Pinelli suited up in his second NHL game on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He recorded the fifth-most ice time amongst Columbus forwards at 18:00 TOI. 

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