Former Penguins director of amateur scouting Nick Pryor joined the Colorado Avalanche organization in the same capacity.
Additionally, former Penguins assistant strength and conditioning coach Alexi Pianosi has joined the Avs as head strength and conditioning coach.
The Avalanche signed Nick Pryor and Alexi Pianosi, each previously with the Penguins.
Pryor was the Penguins’ director of amateur scouting. I ran the last three drafts.
Pianosi was the Penguins’ strength/conditioning coach. https://t.co/8FcNEj3E7w
-Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) July 24, 2024
Pryor, 33, has overseen the scouting of the last three NHL Entry Drafts for the Pittsburgh Penguins, most notably selecting top prospects Brayden Yager (forward, 2023) and Owen Pickering (defenseman, 2022) in the early rounds of their respective drafts. He previously worked as an amateur scout for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2013-21.
Penguins Director of Amateur Scouting Nick Pryor on Brayden Yager (1st round, 14) Emil Pieniniemi (3rd round, 91) and Mikhail Ilyin (5th round, 142.) – Video Courtesy DP @penguins
– Video Courtesy DP @penguins. pic.twitter.com/JPCKvvpfyE
– SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) June 30, 2023
He plans to assume the same responsibilities he had in the Penguins organization as a member of the Avs organization, which includes amateur scouting in both Europe and North America.
Pianosi had been with the Penguins organization since 2017, when he was hired as a member of the strength and conditioning staff. He has been the head strength coach for the past five seasons.
Train like the Pittsburgh Penguins at home.
(Or feel free to adapt!)
Strength and conditioning coach Alexi Pianosi demonstrates a push-up variation exercise. pic.twitter.com/kuB9VBDORX
– Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 21, 2020
On July 9, POHO/GM Kyle Dubas and the Penguins named Wes Clark vice president of player personnel, which effectively gave him control over the club’s amateur, professional and FA/European scouts. Clark was tapped to lead Pryor in his department before Pryor left the organization.
Pryor was, famously, known among Penguins circles as the “last holdout of the Ron Hextall era”, as he was the only notable Hextall signee left on the organizational payroll.
Related: Breaking: Penguins sign draft pick to entry-level contract
Related: Penguins Hire Wes Clark, Former Maple Leafs Director of Scouting
Related: Kyle Dubas named Canada’s Director of Player Personnel for 4 Nations Showdown
