Even though he hasn't scored a point yet, Blue Jackets rookie forward James Malatesta has made his mark in the four NHL games he's played since making his debut on March 26.
In 33:09 of time on ice, he's recorded 17 hits and his 30.76 hits per 60 minutes leads the team and ranks seventh in the league.
When looking at Malatesta and his 5-foot 9-inch frame, it's easy to think he might not be a physical presence, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
James Malatesta ended his night with a tussle in his NHL debut in Arizona.
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) March 27, 2024
He finished with a game-high eight hits. #CBJ | @BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/NTyGRglhS8
While he brings a physical presence, he's also proven to be an effective offensive player at the pro level, posting 12-9--21 in 53 AHL games after he was a star in junior, registering 37-29--66 in 55 games in the 2022-23 regular season in addition to 14-6--20 in 18 playoff games where he was named QMJHL Playoff MVP and Memorial Cup MVP.
Malatesta is a perfect example of how a player can make an impact on the game without scoring.
Will he be on the roster for the rest of the season?
