Blue Jackets sign Pinelli to entry-level contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed prospect Luca Pinelli to a three-year, entry-level contract.

According to CapFriendly, the average annual value is $878,333.

Columbus originally selected Pinelli No. 114 overall in the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville.

Pinelli spent the 2023-24 regular season with the Ottawa 67’s in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) where he led all 67’s skaters with 48 goals and 34 assists for 82 points in 68 games. His 48 goals ranked third among OHL skaters. The 19-year-old also racked up five goals and seven points in 10 OHL Playoff contests.

The Stoney, Creek Ontario product has played 194 games over three seasons with Ottawa. He has tallied 91 goals and 90 assists for 181 points, he is on the verge of cracking the franchise’s top 50 in scoring. Pinelli is nine goals shy of becoming the 24th player in 67’s history to notch 100 goals.

Pinelli was ranked No. 61 by Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis in his 2023 NHL Draft Rankings: The final top 150, “Pinelli is a ball of energy out there.” Ellis said. “After a solid foundational rookie season with the 67’s, he nearly doubled his total output with 29 goals and 63 points. Pinelli was one of the better draft prospects at putting the puck where he wants it to go, but will scouts overlook his 5-foot-9 frame? Does he have enough for the next level? We’ll see.”

Pinelli is expected to join the Blue Jackets’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Clevland Monsters on an amateur tryout contract. The Monsters are gearing up for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Pinelli’s older brother Francesco, was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Draft.