Blue Jackets' Luca Marrelli: Steady defender joins Columbus

Marrelli was the 86th overall pick by the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.

A fifth-round pick of Oshawa in the 2021 OHL Draft, Marrelli had a big offensive season (57 points in 67 games) for a Generals team that won the OHL's Eastern Conference. Despite the production, Marrelli lacks dynamic skill, so he's going to have to find another way to make an impact at higher levels. He is very steady and displayed the ability to make plays in all three zones because of his high hockey IQ. He could become a third-pairing NHL regular if everything breaks correctly in the coming years.