Del Bel Belluz aiming to perfect two-way game heading into 2022 NHL Draft

The 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held July 7-8 at Bell Centre in Montreal. The first round will be July 7 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS) and rounds 2-7 are July 8 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts and other features.
Today, a look at center Luca Del Bel Belluz of Mississauga of the Ontario Hockey League. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Luca Del Bel Belluz
possesses a quality not always seen in players his age. As much as he likes to produce offensively, he is just as focused on being proficient in the defensive zone.
"I'm a two-way centerman," the 18-year-old said. "I like to play both ends of the ice and I'm very creative with the puck, a good playmaker. But I also like to score goals."
No. 8 among North American skaters in
NHL Central Scouting's final rankings
, Del Bel Belluz had 76 points (30 goals, 46 assists) in 68 games in his second season with Mississauga of the Ontario Hockey League. He ranked second on Mississauga in scoring (one point behind forward James Hardie), and his plus-23 rating was tied for 15th in the OHL among forwards.
"I think he's one of the best 200-foot centermen in the draft from what I see," Mississauga coach James Richmond said. "He makes little pro detail plays that not every junior players sees, or is able to do it."
"In the defensive zone you don't see him chasing the play. People say to me, 'He doesn't do much in the D-zone and the puck just comes to him.' And I say, 'Yeah, you watch a pro NHL centerman and that's what they're doing.' They get back low, they're slow in their D-zone and when they get it, they go and he always seems to be in those right spots.
"He's always really, really in strong defensive positioning in the D-zone and when the puck comes to him it's a quick transition up the ice."

Joey Tenute, who specializes in evaluating OHL prospects for NHL Central Scouting, agrees with Richmond's assessment.
"He's got an underrated two-way game and habits," Tenute said. "I think that he's more of an all-around player than just the guy that puts up numbers. So I think he's got top-six upside at the next level. I think he's got a long runway and high ceiling and I think he's a very exciting prospect."
After being selected by Mississauga in the third round (No. 51) of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Del Bel Belluz has progressed steadily from his first season in 2019-20, when he had six points (one goal, five assists) in 58 games. He said he drew inspiration from NFL star Tom Brady, who was selected in the sixth round (No. 199) of the 2000 NFL Draft but has gone on to become arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.
"Being a late draft pick and it's all about what you put into the game," Del Bel Belluz said. "Being a late draft pick and not having too many guys on your side, just proving a lot of people wrong, I think is a great thing to do."
Del Bel Belluz (6-foot, 179 pounds) credits part of his progression to the work he put in at the gym when the 2020-21 OHL season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. He grew about four inches and added 30 pounds during the 18 months between playing competitive games.
"It was just a lot of training and getting in the gym," he said. "The gym was huge for me. It was a big step for me. I really took it seriously because the ice wasn't there so the gym was a big part. Honestly I think it has helped me a lot. I think it's really changed my game and taken it to the next level."
Richmond said the growth in Del Bel Belluz's game from his rookie season has been dramatic.
"He hasn't really filled out yet," Richmond said, "but scouts say to me he's being pinned by two guys and then he squirms and worms and he makes a fire pass out to the front of the net or up to the 'D' and then he gets to the net. Those are pro detail plays.
"A lot of junior guys are in a hurry to play because they hear about the game being fast and you have to play with speed. But I think too many guys want to play in a hurry. But you can't play in a hurry. You have to play with speed but you have to play with your head. He does those things really, really well."

Ever since the summer following his OHL rookie season, Del Bel Belluz, who earned a place on the academic honor roll in high school, has been laser-focused on putting himself in the best possible position heading into the 2022 NHL Draft, even despite the uncertainty during the canceled OHL season.
"Not really difficult to stay motivated," Del Bel Belluz said. "My dad has always been there for me and we've always had a motto going into this year. Starting from 24 months up until the draft, he's always telling me, 'You've got 23 months left, 22 months left, give it your all, this is it.' He's been my backbone that way and he's been awesome for me."
Richmond said Del Bel Belluz is constantly looking to improve.
"I'll be honest, he's been one of the guys who has been most open to learning and to adding to his game," Richmond said. "He's one of those guys who will say to me, 'What are we working on tomorrow morning?' He just shows up and wants to do whatever we are working on. That's not easy to say about every junior player I've had that's gone on. He really has been a coach's dream."
Photos: Charles Warburton, Mississauga (OHL)
---
Listen: New episode of NHL Draft Class