[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Coulson's Brother Edition):

Leading up to the 2023 Draft, one of my favorite prospects for the second round was RW/C Coulson Pitre of the Flint Firebirds, a power-forward with skill and scoring touch. He was taken in the third round, 65th overall by Anaheim and just recently, he signed a 3-year ELC with that club. Coulson's brother Kaden is available this year, and he holds many of the same traits as his older brother. LHC Kaden was selected by Flint in 2022, 18th overall, and the Pitre brothers often play on a line together with Kaden producing 30 points in 35 games, to go with 29 PIM this season. The younger Pitre doesn't quite have his big brother's size, measuring 5'11",168lbs.

Injuries and inconsistency have hurt Pitre's draft stock this year. Despite his size, he plays a bit of a power game with physicality and tenaciousness, and can play the agitator/pest role as well. He is a two-player with a mature. projectable game, and is a nightmare for the opposition on the forecheck, winning puck battles in the hard areas and maintaining possession for his team. His skating has been called elite, and his speed facilitates most of his game- he can win races to loose pucks, and beat defenders wide with his fluid, powerful stride. He's also slippery and elusive, and can move through sticks, and slide off of checks. KP has high IQ, and always seems to be around the puck, flashing the ability to make creative plays with clean, crisp, accurate passes to teammates in high-danger . Most of the time though, he doesn't do anything too dynamic, opting for the safe, simple play while scanning the ice with his head on a swivel. His wrister is a laser, with a release that looks fast in slo-mo, and he can score from distance. He attacks the middle without fear, and will go to the net for tap-ins, rebounds, and garbage goals. Spatial awareness is another component of his offensive game, as he creates room and opens seams for himself and his teammates by drawing defenders towards him. He sniffs out soft spots in coverage, and sneaks into high-danger areas. KP has a high motor, and doesn't stop moving his feet- he's tenacious and competitive in all 3 zones, hounding puck-carriers and working hard on the backcheck. He wins more than his fair share of draws, and supports his D down low, helping to facilitate the breakout. He is defensively sound, and disruptive in his own zone.

It's been hard to get a good read on him for scouts, as he was injured a lot this year with his season ending on January 26th. Inconsistency has plagued him, not only game-to-game, but sometimes shift-to-shift, and he can sometimes fade into the background. There are two Kaden Pitre's- one of them doesn't move his feet, and plays without pace, coasting on the backcheck, and not competing as hard. This Kaden Pitre plays undisciplined and unfocused, and doesn't lean into his shots. I prefer the fiery, hard-working Kaden Pitre, and this version has to take over permanently. Pitre needs plenty more strength for the next level, especially with his style of game. If Pitre can come back and stay healthy, he will develop into a player who can play anywhere in an NHL team's bottom-9. I really like this kid, as I did his brother, and I would be comfortable taking him in the latter half of the second round, but I will say he gets picked in the 4th, or 5th round.