2025–26 Team: Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Date of Birth: April 17, 2008
Place of Birth: Mississauga, ON, CAN
Height: 5-foot-11, Weight: 159 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Rankings
Pierce Mbuyi may be listed at 5-foot-11 and 159 pounds, but he most definitely doesn’t look that way on the ice. As one of the younger players eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, he donned the “C” for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Owen Sound Attack and led them in point-scoring with a hardworking two-way style.
Related: THW’s 2026 NHL Draft Guide
Getting into some numbers, Mbuyi was fairly productive. He recorded 32 goals and 43 assists in 68 games, finishing with 11 more points than his next-closest teammate. His 1.10 point-per-game rate ranked 28th in the OHL among players with double-digit games and fifth for draft-year prospects.
A decent chunk of Mbuyi’s production came on the man advantage, where he scored 19 goals (most in the OHL) and added 15 assists. Beyond point-scoring, he recorded 205 shots—ranking 23rd league-wide—and 85 penalty minutes. Among forwards with 100 shots, his 15.6% shooting clip finished in the 73rd percentile.
Mbuyi’s numbers do tell his story a bit. He’s a reliable power-play contributor, routinely beating goalies off one-timers from the right faceoff circle. His small-area skill leads to defensive breakdowns, both on the man advantage and at 5-on-5. He also has a solid shot, which he utilizes somewhat frequently.
In the offensive zone, Mbuyi is quite versatile. He can be found at the net front, forechecking, weaving through traffic, or in a shooting position. A lot of “hardworking” forward prospects lack NHL-caliber skill, but Mbuyi is not one of those players. He is a quick side-to-side skater, has good hands, and simply creates scoring chances.
This style also applies to the defensive zone. Despite being a winger, if you see an Owen Sound player grinding for pucks in his own zone, it’s probably Mbuyi. There was one instance in my viewings when he was puck-watching a bit on the penalty kill, but otherwise, his defensive game was cerebral and effective. He’s capable of clean exits, too.
Overall, Mbuyi is an interesting player. The 2026–27 Penn State University commit can be unassuming at times, but his skill, two-way upside, and impressive motor make him one of the better OHL prospects of this year’s draft class.
Other THW Draft Profiles
Pierce Mbuyi – NHL Draft Projection
Based on his rankings, Mbuyi seems poised to be picked early in the second round at the 2026 NHL Draft. He could also jump up or slide down slightly. At the end of the day, this is around the range where players with his profile get taken.
Quotables
“He has the speed and skill for the NHL. He’s a creative winger who can play with pace and makes difficult plays frequently. He isn’t big or physical and can be pushed to the outside, but he can win battles along the walls and create in traffic.” – Corey Pronman, The Athletic (from ‘Gavin McKenna drops to No. 4, Tynan Lawrence tops Pronman’s latest 2026 NHL Draft prospect rankings,’ The Athletic – Dec. 10, 2025).
“The battle level he plays with is impressive, playing much bigger than his actual frame. NHL teams may shy away from him because of his size, but he’s often the player initiating physicality in the battle for the puck, and that is a nice sign from a player of his stature.” – Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News
“I especially appreciate Mbuyi’s combination of ‘skill and will’. He’s an energetic forechecker who creates turnovers, never quits on a play and is a shooting option working the weak side flank on the power play.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
Strengths
- Motor
- Hands
- Two-way effort and impact
- Quick side-to-side skater
- Playmaking and shot are above average
- Plays in all situations
- Power-play upside
Under Construction – Improvements to Make
- Size
- Isn’t overly fast straight-line
- Modest 5-on-5 point totals, and sometimes, impact
NHL Potential
Mbuyi has the potential to be an all-situations third-line winger. In fact, his production relative to his team suggests there’s even more upside than that—perhaps an ultimate ceiling of a top-sixer.
Risk – 2.5/5, Reward – 3.5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 6.5/10, Defense – 6/10
Awards/Achievements
- 2024–25 CHL All-Rookie Team
- 2024–25 OHL First All-Rookie Team
- 2024–25 OHL Most Goals by Rookie (29)
- 2024–25 OHL Most Points by Rookie (52)
- 2024–25 OHL Rookie of the Year (Emms Family Award)
- 2024–25 U17 WHC Silver Medal
- 2025–26 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze Medal
Interviews/Links
Markus Ruck Stats
Videos
The captain comes up big🫡
Pierce Mbuyi absolutely ripped in in his 31st of the season which stood for the eventual game winner!@AttackOHL | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/jDtCNfC3Wa
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 19, 2026
