And while the coach liked what he saw even then, he also knew what he needed to see more.
"Dalpe has great size, he can skate and shoot a puck," Tortorella said. "He can make a play, he's got all the things. And then when you think he's finally arrived, he just isn't consistent enough and that is the battle he has fought."
That feedback isn't anything new to Dalpe. But when he joined the Jackets, it was an opportunity to look at what he could become, and the motivation was both personal and professional.
Dalpe was claimed off waivers by the Jackets on Feb. 27. Nine days later, he welcomed his first child, a son. And that changed his approach to the game he loved.
"I got a whole new perspective on life and motivation," Dalpe said. "Not that I wasn't motivated before but I put the work in when nobody was watching. I'd like to think I'm getting a little rewarded for that and I just have to keep going."
The 6-foot-1 center's approach has been working. In 20 games with the Monsters last season, Dalpe scored eight goals and had seven assists.
His head coach has been pleased with his performance through this camp to date, and he's played three preseason games, including a two-goal performance in St. Louis.