Nick Pierre

July 2022 – Pierre went unselected in the 2022 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

June 2022 – After notching just one goal in 22 games during his first season with the Muskateers, Pierre took a notable step forward in his second season, finishing with 17 goals and 16 assists in 60 games. Those totals may not jump off the page to most viewers, but Pierre displays a versatile skill set along with above-average skating ability that gives him a shot of blossoming with further development.

While not a burner, Pierre possesses good speed and edge work and frequently beats defenders wide while displaying a willingness to take the puck to the net. His shot is not overpowering, but he does demonstrate a shooting mentality and consistently finds open areas of the ice where he is in good shooting position. Pierre compensates for his slight frame by displaying excellent play recognition, allowing him to effectively forecheck and contribute more defensively than your average 5-9, 175-pound forward would be expected to. It is this same play recognition and awareness that allows Pierre to capitalize on loose puck retrievals, a skill that is one of his biggest strengths when looking at his overall profile. While Pierre primarily played left wing during the 2021-22 season, he frequently displays the defensive traits and mindset of a center by recognizing danger in the slot during defensive zone sequences and effectively shading towards the top of the slot when required.

Pierre will face the same challenges other undersized forwards looking to reach the NHL face, where size and strength can be the difference between winning and losing important battles. However, while Pierre doesn’t demonstrate a ton of physicality as his slight frame might suggest, he is consistently competitive on the forecheck and reads the play well enough to create turnovers and provide serviceable defensive value relative to his size. Pierre is committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2022-23 season, a decision that should bode well for his development as he continues to refine his offensive ability. All in all, his draft profile is that of a typical mid to late-round project who could carve out a middle-six role in the NHL should his development continue to progress. Christopher Horvat