Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Blue Jackets Sign Dante Salituro to an ELC

July 1, 2016, 10:39 PM ET [4 Comments]
Paul Berthelot
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Blue Jackets were quiet this free agent frenzy, not signing a single NHL player. They did however officially announce the signing of first round pick Pierre-Luc Dubois, and signed undrafted Dante Salituro to an entry-level contract.




I am a big fan of this move. Salituro is one of my favourite prospects and someone I have been high on for over two years. I was really hoping to see him signed last season when the Jackets brought him to the Traverse City Tournament and NHL camp. Ultimately that didn’t happen but I'm thrilled to see him signed now.

I profiled Salituro this week when looking at development camp rosters. To recap quickly, he’s a small but highly skilled player. He scored 83 points in 63 games for Ottawa in the OHL, his second straight season scoring over a point per game. His high skill level is a great addition to a prospect pool that sorely lacks it.

Salituro immediately becomes one of the team’s better prospects, easily in the top 10 for me. As it stands I think I’d place him sixth behind Zach Werenski, Dubois, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Sonny Milano, and Vitali Abramov. Say what you will about size but you can’t teach the way he stickhandles and anticipates the game.

This signing helps take some of the sting off of only having five draft picks. In the post linked above I looked at a tool called Draft Expected Value (DEV). Using their model they pegged Salituro as a player worth a second pick. Jarmo Kekäläinen was essentially able to add a second round pick to the system for nothing but money and a roster spot, a very shrewd pick-up.

Moving forward I think he spends next season in the AHL. He’s still only 19 years old but due to his late birthday he has played four seasons in the OHL, thus making him eligible for the AHL. Recently the Jackets have shown they are willing to push their prospects, notably giving the 18 year old Werenski big minutes in the AHL playoffs and 19 year old Milano a full season in the AHL, when he could have returned to the OHL. Salituro could return to the OHL as an overage player, but that seems unlikely. You don’t see many prospects signed/drafted by teams playing their overage season in the CHL. I think its best he gets a shot at playing pro hockey in the AHL.

You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot
Join the Discussion: » 4 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Paul Berthelot
» Blue Jackets extend John Tortorella
» Blue Jackets extend Hockey Operations Staff
» Thoughts on the Blue Jackets Traverse City roster
» How the Blue Jackets can get more national coverage
» Just how bad is the Blue Jackets prospect system?