The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled top prospect James Malatesta under emergency conditions. He is expected to make his NHL debut on Tuesday, with winger Alexander Nylander out with illness, per the Columbus Dispatch’s Brian Hedger (Twitter link). NHL.com’s Jeff Svoboda also reported that Nylander has been designated as day-to-day with an upper-body injury (Twitter link).
Malatesta, 20, is in his first professional season after a successful four years in the QMJHL, where he managed 187 points across 214 career games. He’s still working to find his scoring groove in the AHL, scoring just 12 goals and 21 points in 53 games this season. He’s also recorded 79 penalty minutes, more than he totaled in any of his juniors seasons.
The Blue Jackets selected Malatesta in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He’ll become the second player from that round to make their NHL debut, joining Montreal winger Joshua Roy. Malatesta took line rushes alongside AHL linemates Tyler Angle and Carson Meyer, set to get his first NHL look alongside familiar company. Angle was recalled on March 25th and is set to play in his first NHL game of the season, after playing in the first two games of his career last season. He has 15 points in 34 AHL games. Meyer has gathered a bit more experience, with seven NHL games this season and 34 career games.