Scouting Report
EVALUATED 09/04/2024
Jordan Malette
Regional Scout - Ontario
Projection: Top six winger Projectable skills: Playmaking, puck management, skating mechanics Development Opportunities: Strength, two-way game Mbuyi made a strong push over the GTHL Playoffs and OHL Cup to rise up my rankings, proving that he's a player who fits exactly what I am looking for. The focal point of his game is playmaking and puck management, as he is so impactful with the puck on his stick. He's patient, deceptive, and tactical, all working together to draw in pressure and create passing lanes to then dish pucks through. Mbuyi is an explosive and laterally agile skater with a long, powerful stride that should bode well for future growth and development as he adds muscle. Over the final stretch of the season, it just started to click that Mbuyi possesses more or less every quality I am looking for and someone I am willing to bet on near the top of the draft. Looking back on my year of notes of Pierce, almost all of them speak to his play with the puck, and I have limited about him positively disrupting play and winning possession. I have never consciously registered him as being inactive defensively, but the absence of notes on him as a successful puck-pursuit player leads me to think it could be an area for him to expand his game.
Skating
9.5Puck Skills
9Hockey IQ
9Playmaking
9.5Scoring
8.5Physicality
6.5Defense
6Overall
8.29Game Reports
EVALUATED 12/04/2024 Jordan Malette
Regional Scout - Ontario
This was a coin flip with Adam Valentini, but I gave Pierce the slight edge. It was tough to decide between them as the duo was combining off one another all week long to create scoring chance after chance, but Pierce's performance was slightly more impressive. Mbuyi was sensational as a playmaker, creating so many chances for those around him. There were so many different situations in which Mbuyi created scoring chances as a passer that it's hard to summarize how he created them, but the central theme was his ability to draw in pressure and evade defenders. His opponents could not close him down, and through his on-puck evasiveness, Pierce opened up time, space, and passing lanes for him to funnel pucks to the dangerous areas. In addition, Mbuyi was so eager to attack the middle of the ice, drive the net and generate scoring chances from the interior. With clever dekes and slick lateral movements, Pierce was able to deceive defenders and find ways to create open lanes and penetrate the interior. Mbuyi had the goal of the tournament by picking up speed in the neutral zone, splitting the defence, and then finishing with a backhand while off-balanced. The final element I really noticed was his powerful skating over the week and how many advantages he creates with his feet and his long, powerful stride that propels him up and down the ice. Even at top speed, he could shift laterally as necessary to dodge and evade defenders, making him nearly unstoppable in open ice. It was an excellent week for Pierce, and it simply made me appreciate his game and forward-looking outlook much more, pushing him into my top ten.
Game Reports
EVALUATED 12/03/2024 Jordan Malette
Regional Scout - Ontario
Mbuyi was the star of this game, making his mark as a playmaker and constantly setting up scoring chances through his prolific passing. All game long, he was able to pick apart the defence with impressive passes all over the offensive zone, sparking golden opportunities almost at ease. With the puck, he was so evasive, allowing him to escape any defender's efforts to close him down and buy himself space to then find an open passing lane. Through all of these passing sequences, he set up plenty of the Marlies' goals and scored two of his own, making for an all-around fantastic performance. As the season has gone on, I've grown fonder of Pierce's game, mainly for his playmaking ability and as such, recently jumped him into my late first round, which I think he sticks on the final version of my list.
Game Reports
EVALUATED
Will Scouch
Regional Scout - Ontario
Hard work pays off, and for Mbuyi, it certainly did in this one. Landing two points and driving play well on his own. A strong forechecker, Mbuyi made life miserable for the Americans on a few occasions, earning valuable space in the offensive zone with physical pressure and a solid skating base that helped him scoot around and create room for himself off the puck. He didn’t play much, but he felt like a difference maker that did the dirty work well, and may have earned himself a slightly bigger role down the line. He worked his way to the scoring area and tipped home Canada’s 2-0 goal on the power play and won the physical battle that led to Brady Wassilyn’s empty netter and caught my eye more than players with much more ice time in this game.
Game Reports
EVALUATED Will Scouch
Regional Scout - Ontario
Early in the game Canada Red seemed to be carrying quite a bit of the momentum, and Mbuyi was a major part of that. He quieted down a bit as the game wore on and Canada White found their legs, but you can’t ignore Mbuyi’s influence while he’s on the ice. Plain old hard work everywhere set him apart from many others on the ice, showcasing quickness and relentless pressure that won puck battles and kept putting him in good position on the ice. He took on any challengers, battling for position on and off the puck to earn valuable space. Canada White couldn’t get much through him and he wouldn’t let much get by him with quick edges, and an excellent willingness to pursue puck carriers and create turnovers. He landed a few shots on goal but his offensive threat wasn’t quite on the level of some of his counterparts, but he drove possession extremely well and kept play going in the right direction far more often than not.
Player Card
- All Data is derived via 5v5 per 60 minutes rate displayed in percentile format.
- Data Courtesy of In Slat.
SIGNED:
Owen Sound Attack
13/06/2024
TEAM PREDICTION
-
Penn State
Confirmed
100%
TIMELINE
- 2025
12/06/2025
Pierce Mbuyi commits to Penn State
- 2024
13/06/2024
Owen Sound Attack sign Pierce Mbuyi
- 2024
07/05/2024
Green Bay Gamblers select Pierce Mbuyi at the 2024 USHL Phase 2 Draft
- 2024
12/04/2024
Owen Sound Attack select Pierce Mbuyi at the 2024 OHL Priority Draft
