Pierce Mbuyi didn’t need long to make his presence felt at Penguins summer development camp. The 2026 third-round pick was everywhere during the 3v3 scrimmages, using his creativity and skill to keep creating offense and leave a strong first impression after being taken 86th overall at the 2026 draft.
The Penguins clearly came away impressed. Wes Clark said, “Pierce is an underdog.
He had 74 points this year, and we did a lot of work on him in the past couple of weeks. He’s dealt with some things in his lifetime that you don’t want people at that age to deal with.
So, we see the look in his eyes, and we’ve got a lot of belief in the person.”
Clark was referring to the death of Mbuyi’s mother from cancer in 2021. Mbuyi said, “If I had a bad game I could just talk to her about the game . . . my mom would just let me tell her what I think.
She didn’t know much about hockey, she just always wanted to help out and do her thing,” Mbuyi said. “Everything I do is for my mom.
With everything I do, I try to make her proud.”
Mbuyi has kept pushing forward through that loss and built himself into a legitimate pro prospect. He was drafted seventh overall in the OHL draft, then followed that by putting together two successful seasons in the OHL. His next stop is State College in 2026-27, where he’ll continue his path in Pennsylvania.
He described himself as a player who has always had to earn everything the hard way. “I was always just a hard worker.
A grinder. When I dropped down to my age group I had a pretty good year, but it was my bantam year when I kind of took off and started scoring,” Mbuyi said.
“I don’t know what happened. I got some hands overnight.”
He added, “I was just really determined. For me it wasn’t even about the points, it was just about working my ass off and getting seen, you know? Make an impact,” Mbuyi said.
Not everyone saw him lasting until the third round. His size was one reason he slipped, since he checks in at only 163 pounds and still has plenty of physical development ahead of him before he’s ready for the pro level. But the Penguins were drawn to the parts of his game that were on display in Pittsburgh: the way he reads the ice, the skill to execute, and the competitive edge that keeps him involved in the play.
Josh Yohe at The Athletic wrote: “There is one other person that everyone I speak with in the organization is excited about. His name is Pierce Mbuyi.
The Penguins genuinely did not expect him to still be available in the third round. Though Mbuyi is undersized, the Penguins love his skill, hockey IQ and competitive spirit. They think they got a steal.
Time will tell, of course. But this is as excited as I’ve heard people about a third-round pick in a long time.”
Pal Jesse Marshall also took a deep dive on Mbuyi, including a 13-minute video package that broke down the traits that make him such an intriguing prospect.
One of the biggest pieces of that profile is his one-timer. As a rookie last season, Mbuyi led the entire OHL in power-play goals with 19, doing most of his damage from the half-wall.
When he gets into that spot with his stick loaded, defenders have to close fast or risk paying for it. He scored plenty of forceful goals this year, but he also created space for himself by reading openings, drifting into soft ice and helping teammates get him the puck.
That weapon isn’t just about waiting for a pass and firing away. Mbuyi uses his passing to move defenders around, then resets his position and loads up again to create a better shooting lane. That movement gives him more room the second time around, and it’s a big part of why his shot plays so well.
Those traits were easy to spot at camp. Mbuyi looked shifty on his skates, controlled the puck well and kept making things happen whether he was scoring or setting up teammates. After a strong showing in his first development camp, he’s now a name to watch as he moves toward the NCAA ranks.
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For a team looking to keep adding speed and skill without overcommitting, Lapierre is a worthwhile bet because he is expected to compete for a regular role right away. His earlier production showed he can contribute when given the chance, and Pittsburghs forward mix offers him a path to carve out meaningful minutes. If he settles in quickly, he could end up being more than just a reclamation project, which is exactly why his arrival is worth watching. [Read more 🡒]