C/LW Francesco Pinelli, 6'1"185lbs (Kitchener, OHL): Selected by kitchener 13th overall. In 2019-20 he recorded 59gp/18g/23a/41pts, which was third for under 17 players. This year he went over to play in Slovenia's AlpsHL for HDD Jesenice, and aquitted himself well with 11pts in 13 games(He was there alone, and didn't speak the language). Then he was tied with McTavish for third in scoring on team Canada at the U-18s, 5th overall with 11pts in 7 games. I really love this kid, he was one of my favorites in that tourney-he's responsible defensively, and a dynamite offensive player. I have no doubt that if he played a full OHL season, he would ranked top-10, at least. Called "fun and flashy".
Pinelli's skating is hovering around elite. He can get to top speed in a few steps, and has top-notch agility and edgework. He shines in puck-pursuit. FP can be a dominant force in all 3 zones, he's got skill and will. Generates plays all over the sheet, and can finish or create a play from nothing. Highly intelligent, he attacks open ice to unleash a shot, or dish. Scans the play at full speed for his next move, with or without the puck. Drives play, constantly puts the puck in high-danger, and can thread the needle through the tightest spaces. Slick puckhandler, and very deceptive when in control of the puck-can manipulate and fool attackers. Quick and accurate menu of shots, with a quick release-doesn't need a big wind-up. Incredible in transition, in all 3 zones-he's amazing at defensive transition when in the neutral zone. Watches from center ice, then swoops in and shuts down the rush, and traps attackers. Provides heavy and aggressive backpressure.
Pinelli has off the charts work ethic and high compete-he impacts the play every shift, and is always involved. A true leader. He can play PK and PP. Hard and aggressive forechecker, and fights like hell in the trenches, and in front of the net. Loves to get his nose dirty. Uses his body and hits big along the boards, and in open-ice- fights through checks, and goes to the net. Described as physical and gritty. Defensively, he knows where he should be and when to take a more defensive posture, or a more aggressive one. Employs an active stick to stop breakouts, explodes to loose pucks. Will drop back in both ends to cover for out of position defensemen. Uses gap control and that active stick to keep opponents out of danger, and without time or space.
FP plays a pretty well-rounded game with no too many holes. He could stand to maybe fine-tune his stickhandling and skating, but they aren't really negatives. Sometimes, he can be pressured into making a bad decision, and turning over the puck.He needs better problem-solving to mitigate this. The pace at which he plays has drawn some criticism, but I don't really see it- it sure wasn't evident at the U-18s, or any of the clips I've watched. Pinelli projects to be a reliable, two-way, top 6 player, and his style has been compared to Gaudreau, O'Rielly, and Pavelski. He is mostly seen in the last third of the first round, but I wouldn't mind at all if they took him at 12-I like him that much.
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