2020 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Hendrix Lapierre Scouting Report
By Kyle Pereira
Potential, NHL Comparison, and NHL Readiness
To me, LaPierre is extremely well-balanced and checks just about every box. He needs to build up certain aspects of his game, but overall, is a solid all-around prospect. The issue is his injury proneness. The concussions can really hurt his overall play, and if he continues getting them, he could have an extremely short career, if he even makes the NHL with them. All-in-all, if things go well, he could be an NHL-capable player within 3 years. However, if things don’t go his way, he may never see the NHL-level, as injuries could derail his career.
LaPierre has incredible potential. Again, he is extremely well-rounded, and he could easily slot in as a 1st line player if he hits his full potential. However, I don’t see him being considered elite, even if he grows well. He could also be a great penalty killer and a solid power play specialist. At worst, injuries aside, he could be a solid two-way 3rd line center, with penalty kill opportunities.
Before I get into his NHL comparison, keep in mind that this is based solely on his style of play and tendencies. This is in no way a comparison to the player he could become in the future.
LaPierre is a dangler with a well-balanced offensive arsenal, while also maintaining a reliable defensive ability. Mikko Koivu is a guy who fits that same mould. Koivu has great hands and isn’t afraid to use them.
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He’s also well-balanced offensively while maintaining a solid defensive reputation. LaPierre could also have a similar career path because Koivu has always been a bit under-the-radar and has been in the league for quite some time. If LaPierre doesn’t get derailed by injuries, he could have a long, somewhat under-the-radar career.