Joseph Blandisi

History

2009-10: Joseph Blandisi played for the Toronto Red Wings U16 team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

2010-11: Blandisi skated in seven Junior A games with the Vaughan Vipers and was the top scorer for the Vaughan Kings midget major team. He scored 2 goals and had 14 penalty minutes in his brief tenure with the OJHL’s Vipers. In 41games with the Kings he scored 51 goals with 41 assists. Blandisi was selected by Owen Sound in the third round (61st overall) of the 2011 OHL Priority Draft.

2011-12: Blandisi saw significant ice time in a lower line role  and also played on the wing at times for the Attack as a 17-year-old OHL rookie. In 68 games he scored 17 goals with 14 assists and was plus-four with 72 penalty minutes. Blandisi got off to a fast start offensively, posting 20 points in his first 33 games but had just two goals after January as he played more of a defensive role. In the five-game playoff series with Kitchener he had 1 assist and was minus-three with 8 penalty minutes. Ranked 195th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings but not among the 210 players in the final rankings, Blandisi was selected by Colorado in the sixth round (162nd overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Blandisi went from playoff-bound Owen Sound to the last-place Ottawa 67’s as part of the January trade that sent Senators’ 2012 first round pick Cody Ceci to the Attack. In 37 games with Owen Sound he scored 7 goals with 18 assists and was +10 with 49 penalty minutes. He was one of Ottawa’s leading scorers after the trade – scoring 8 goals with 18 assists in 26 games and was -14 with 68 penalty minutes. Ottawa was fifth in the East Division and had the OHL’s worst record.

2013-14: Blandisi returned to the Ottawa 67’s for his third OHL season, skating in 37 games with the club before being obtained by the Barrie Colts. He skated in 10 games with the Colts, battling through a viral infection that effected his balance and vision. In 47 games between the two teams he scored 24 goals with 26 assists and was -17 with 73 penalty minutes. Blandisi was not signed to a contract by the Avalanche and re-entered the 2014 NHL Draft but was not selected.

2014-15: Blandisi played for the Buffalo Sabres’ rookie team but was not signed to a contract; returning to Barrie for an overage season with the Colts. The OHL’s leading goal scorer as a 20-year-old, he had 52 goals with 60 assists in 68 games to lead Barrie with 112 points and was +18 with 126 penalty minutes. Barrie finished first in the Central Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Blandisi scored 6 goals with 8 assists and was +3 with 22 penalty minutes in nine playoff games. New Jersey signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in January 2015.

Talent Analysis

Blandisi has good puck skills to maneuver through the offensive zone and beat the goaltender. He can also create chances for his teammates, but it remains to be seen how his offensive skills will translate to the NHL. Another attribute for the forward is his willingness to play a physical game despite being only 5-foot-11, 183 pounds. He does not mind getting involved into physical altercations, but he has shown in the past he can get under the opposing teams skin.

Future

Blandisi has been a breakout story for New Jersey as a 21-year-old in his first season of pro hockey in 2015-16. After impressing coaches and teammates with his skill set at the team's development camp, he started the year with AHL affiliate Albany. After a three-game call-up in December he was returned to Albany but re-joined New Jersey in January and has been seeing top line minutes. While it is too early to determine his long-term potential — and his overall game is very much a work in progress — Blandisi has supplied some offense for a team struggling to score goals.