Kaden Pitre

October 2024 – Drafted 181st in 2024 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Pitre is a defense-minded forward. He plays with a high motor and is very physical but currently lacks the skills to be a threat with the puck. He was starting to flash a more refined transition game and deception in attack, but then Pitre lost the second half of last year to injury. A wildcard, he has the mentality and motor to be a bottom-six defensive forward with continued linear growth. Should he start growing more aspects of his game, he could be an excellent all-around bottom-six player. It’s hard to project when he missed so much time; playing a full season this year should help paint a clearer picture for the future. Markus Roach