Nicholas Moldenhauer is a speedy two-way winger who uses his skating to have an impact at both ends of the ice. His skating ability is his most intriguing asset, as he has quick feet allowing him to accelerate to his top-speed in just a few strides. He uses his skating ability as fuel for his high-motor. He is aggressive on the puck in all three zones, and doesn’t shy away from using his speed to contribute at both ends of the ice. He shows a tendency to spot loose pucks before anyone else and uses his quick feet to retrieve it. He’ll do a lot of little things that don’t show up on the scoresheet but has the potential to be a regular contributor on the offensive side of the game. He has good vision and passing instincts, making him a capable playmaker. He can scan the ice off the rush or the cycle and deliver accurate passes to his teammates in scoring situations. Strength is his biggest drawback because even though he flashes some high-end skill potential, he likely won’t be consistent enough to be a top-six forward at the next level. He will have to adapt his game to become a bottom-six style of winger and to do that he needs to get stronger and play a more physical brand of hockey in order to be more effective in the puck possession game. Despite missing time with an injury earlier in the year, he was able to recover nicely and play an effective role for both his team and with Canada at the Under-18s. A team will take a swing on him later in the draft because he has a good all-around game and has the ability to be a flashy offensive type of player. If he hits his ceiling, he will likely be a third-line winger who can find his way onto a team’s second power play unit at the NHL level.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide