Francesco Pinelli

Center

Kitchener Rangers/OHL

Height: 6’0″/ Weight: 176 lbs.

Size/Strength      Average
Skating       Great
Shot/Scoring      Good
Puckhandling      Great
Physical Play       Excellent
Offensive Play      Great
Defensive Play      Excellent
Hockey Sense        Excellent
Competitiveness   Excellent

Strengths

1.  A five-tool player who can accomplish any assignment from his coaches and has the offensive upside to suggest that he has more to contribute down the road.
2. Pinelli leads by example; he will to go to the dirty areas of the ice, fight for pucks, and his work ethic is off the charts.
3.  He is an excellent defensive player, and will use his stick to cut off passes and force turnovers.

Area’s for Improvement

1. Needs to be more consistent offensively
2. Could benefit from adding on some muscle

Scouting Report:

Playing in the OHL for the Kitchener Rangers last season, Francesco Pinelli tallied 18 goals and 41 points in 59 games. Pinelli is a well-rounded player that can play in all situations and can one day be a captain in the league. Francesco is a skilled two-way forward who can contribute in numerous areas of the ice with his versatility and overall skillset. Francesco possesses a good, long stride and can produce good speed that should translate well to the next level. He is a five-tool player who can accomplish any assignment from his coaches and has the offensive upside to suggest that he has more to contribute down the road. Pinelli is a smart, two-way center with excellent skating abilities and high-end puck skills. He wants to win, has a bit of an edge, and does not shy away from any situation. Francesco’s dedication to his defensive play is evident; as Pinelli gets stronger, he should become more effective on his end. Pinelli leads by example; He goes to the dirty areas of the ice, fights for pucks, and plays with a physical edge. His work ethic is off the charts and never takes a shift off. What will make Pinelli more attractive at the draft is his intangibles and his work ethic; with this said, Pinelli should be a lock to be a first-round pick in the 2021 draft.

Skill:

A smart, two-way center with great skating abilities, high-end puck skills, and leadership.

Style Comparison: Mike Richards

NHL Potential: Top 6 Two-Way Center

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2018-19	Toronto Red Wings U16 AAA “C”	GTHL U16	71	49	114
2019-20	Kitchener Rangers	OHL	59	18	41
2020-21	HDD Jesenice (Loan)	Slovenia	2	1	1