Nicholas Baptiste

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Nicholas Baptiste

| image = Nicholas Baptiste 2017-11-14 1.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Baptiste with the Buffalo Sabres in 2017

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|8|4}}

| birth_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 205

| position = Right wing

| shoots = Right

| league =

| team = Free agent

| prospect_league =

| prospect_team =

| former_teams = Buffalo Sabres
Ilves
Kölner Haie
Tappara
HC Vityaz
Augsburger Panther

| ntl_team =

| draft = 69th overall

| draft_year = 2013

| draft_team = Buffalo Sabres

| career_start = 2015

| career_end =

}}

Nicholas Baptiste (born August 4, 1995) is a Haitian-Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for Augsburger Panther in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Baptiste was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round (69th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life

Baptiste was born on August 4, 1995, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada{{cite web |title=Nick Baptiste |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/106161/nick-baptiste |website=eliteprospects.com |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=May 21, 2021}} to parents Ralph Baptiste and Michele Emond. His father, coming from Haiti, had limited knowledge of hockey and bought Baptiste his first pair of skates for $2.99 from the Salvation Army.{{cite news |last1=Warren |first1=Ken |title=Baptiste: From unlikely hockey background to Buffalo |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/nhl/senatorsextra/baptiste-from-unlikely-hockey-background-to-buffalo |access-date=May 21, 2021 |publisher=Ottawa Citizen |date=May 18, 2014}} Baptiste began ice skating at the age of six and joined his first hockey team the following year.{{cite news |title=From The Natural to The Prospect |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20110130/281479272878976 |access-date=May 21, 2021 |publisher=Ottawa Citizen |date=January 30, 2011}}

Playing career

=Minor=

Baptiste joined a house league hockey team at the age of eight and began playing competitive hockey shortly after. He played for the Ottawa Ambassadors Novice 'AAA' Spring team. By the age of 12, he began being approached and recruited by scouts and agents. During this time, he also played football and soccer but eventually chose to focus on hockey. Baptiste played minor midget hockey with the Ottawa Senators of the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association and won their Player of the Year Award in 2011 for his "outstanding ability and the qualities of sportsmanship and leadership."{{cite web |title=2019-20 Minor Midget Player of the Year Awards |url=https://ontariohockeyleague.com/video/2019-20-minor-midget-player-of-the-year-awards |website=ontariohockeyleague.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=March 20, 2020}} While attending St. Joseph Catholic High School, Baptiste played in the Ontario East Minor Hockey League (OEMHL) and was chosen to compete with the Under-16 Ontario team at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax. During the tournament, he drew the attention of Sudbury Wolves head scout Norm Robert but suffering a season-ending injury. He thus finished the OEMHL regular season with 55 points in 24 games.{{cite web |title=Barrhaven native selected in OHL draft |url=https://www.toronto.com/community-story/3795644-barrhaven-native-selected-in-ohl-draft/ |website=toronto.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=May 11, 2011 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521231912/https://www.toronto.com/community-story/3795644-barrhaven-native-selected-in-ohl-draft/ |url-status=dead }}

=Major junior=

Baptiste was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, by the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the 2011 OHL Entry Draft. In his first season with the team, Baptiste competed in 68 regular-season games and finished with 8 goals with 19 assists. In December 2011, Baptiste was chosen to skate for Canada Ontario in the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge{{cite web |title=Baptiste To Take on World |url=https://sudburywolves.com/baptiste-to-take-on-world |website=sudburywolves.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=December 27, 2011}} and helped them win a bronze medal.{{cite web |title=Baptiste Honoured For Bronze Medal |url=https://sudburywolves.com/baptiste-honoured-for-bronze-medal |website=sudburywolves.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=January 7, 2012}}

Baptiste returned to the Wolves for his sophomore season and became the third-leading scorer for the team with 21 goals with 27 assists in 66 games.{{cite web |title=Nick Baptiste |url=https://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/nick-baptiste/ |website=hockeysfuture.com |publisher=Hockeys Future |access-date=May 21, 2021}} Baptiste was again chosen to compete for Team Canada at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships where he helped the team win a gold medal by recording two assists in the gold medla game.{{cite web |title=Congrats Nick Baptiste! |url=https://sudburywolves.com/congrats-nick-baptiste |website=sudburywolves.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=April 28, 2013}} He and Morgan Klimchuk were tied behind Connor McDavid for second in scoring for Canada at the tournament, with both scoring three goals and five assists. Upon concluding his sophomore season with the Wolves, Baptiste was given the final ranking of 61 amongst North American Skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau prior to the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite web |title=CSS Final 2013 North American Skater Rankings |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=88636 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=May 21, 2021}} He was eventually drafted in the third-round, 69th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres.{{cite web |title=SABRES SIGN BAPTISTE TO ENTRY-LEVEL DEAL |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-baptiste-to-entry-level-deal/c-721384 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=May 31, 2014}}

In his third OHL season, Baptiste was named an assistant captain alongside Mathew Campagna and Jeff Corbett for the 2013–14 campaign.{{cite web |title=Wolves Name Team Captains |url=https://sudburywolves.com/wolves-name-team-captains |website=sudburywolves.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=September 19, 2013}} He led the Wolves in scoring with 45 goals and 44 assists in 65 regular-season games and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Sabres on May 31, 2014. As a result of his play, Baptiste was named the Eastern Conference’s Best Shootout Skater in the Ontario Hockey League’s Coaches Poll and finished second to Andreas Athanasiou as the best skater in the conference.{{cite web |last1=Ryndak |first1=Chris |title=BAPTISTE CONTINUES TO ELEVATE HIS PLAY |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/baptiste-continues-to-elevate-his-play/c-30750 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=July 21, 2014}}

Baptiste returned to the Wolves for his fourth and final season as co-captain for the team alongside Brody Silk.{{cite web |title=Silk, Baptiste named co-captains |url=https://www.sudbury.com/sports/silk-baptiste-named-co-captains-251920 |website=sudbury.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=September 25, 2014}} He skated in 12 games for the team before being traded to the Erie Otters on November 24, 2014, in exchange for Travis Wood, Cole Mayo, and four draft picks.{{cite web |title=Erie Acquires Nicholas Baptiste from Sudbury |url=http://ottershockey.com/erie-acquire-nicholas-baptiste-from-sudbury |website=ottershockey.com |accessdate=October 1, 2018 |date=November 24, 2014}} In 53 regular-season games between the two teams, he scored 32 goals with 32 assists and had 26 penalty minutes.

=Professional=

Upon concluding his major junior career, Baptiste joined the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) for their 2015–16 season.{{cite web |title=OHL Alumni on Opening Day AHL Rosters |url=https://ontariohockeyleague.com/ohl-alumni-on-opening-day-ahl-rosters/ |website=ontariohockeyleague.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=October 9, 2015}}

File:Baptiste Nicholas Ilves 2022 1.jpg in 2022]]

Following his rookie season, Baptiste was invited by the Sabres to participate in their Prospects Challenge in September, during which he scored a hat-trick. As a result, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said that Baptiste is "a good possibility" to make his NHL debut at some point during the team's current three-game road trip in Western Canada.{{cite web |last1=LaBarber |first1=Jourdan |title=Sabres hope for Baptiste to bring speed to lineup |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-nick-baptiste-speed-debut/c-282698540 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=October 15, 2016}} Baptiste was also invited to the Sabres training camp prior to the 2016–17 season but was unable to finish due to a back injury suffered during a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.{{cite web |title=Sabres' Nicholas Baptiste: Suffers lower back injury Friday |url=https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1115777 |website=thescore.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=2016}} He was medically cleared to play for the Americans opening night game. Following injuries to Evander Kane and Jack Eichel, Baptiste earned his first NHL call up on October 16, 2016{{cite web |last1=Ryndak |first1=Chris |title=Sharpen Up: October 16, 2016 |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sharpen-up-october-16-2016/c-282707478 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=October 16, 2016}} and made his debut against the Calgary Flames on October 18, 2016.{{cite news| url = http://buffalonews.com/2016/10/18/baptiste-gets-call-make-nhl-debut-sabres/ | title = Nicholas Baptiste gets call to make NHL debut for Sabres | newspaper = The Buffalo News | date = October 18, 2016 | accessdate = October 18, 2016}} He recorded his first career NHL goal the following game, in a 2–1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Although Baptiste was awarded the goal, he was not the one to shoot it into the net. There was a misplay between two Canucks players leading the puck to go into the net and since Baptiste was the last Sabres player to touch it, he was awarded his first NHL goal.{{cite web |last1=LaBarber |first1=Jourdon |title=Sabres unable to capitalize in loss to Vancouver |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-canucks-recap/c-282905514 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=October 1, 2018 |date=October 21, 2016}} Upon rejoining the Americans, Baptiste recorded his first professional regular season hat-trick in a 5–2 win over the Toronto Marlies on December 15.{{cite web |title=Baptiste's first hat trick leads Amerks to 5-2 win |url=https://13wham.com/sports/rochester-amerks/baptistes-first-hat-trick-leads-amerks-to-5-2-win |website=13wham.com |publisher=WHAM-TV |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=December 15, 2016}}

In this third and final season with the Sabres, Baptiste skated in a career-high 33 NHL games with the Sabres during the year and recorded six points. He re-signed with the Sabres on July 18, 2018.{{cite web |title=O'Regan, Baptiste sign 1-year deals |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-sign-danny-oregan-nick-baptiste/c-299492310 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=October 1, 2018 |date=July 15, 2018}}

On October 1, 2018, before the 2018–19 season, Baptiste was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Jack Dougherty.{{cite web |title=Sabres acquire Dougherty from Predators |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-acquire-dougherty-from-predators/c-300543482 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=October 1, 2018 |date=October 1, 2018}} He was immediately reassigned to join AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. Baptiste remained with the Admirals, scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 54 games before he was traded for the second time within the season, dealt by the Predators to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for future considerations on February 24, 2019.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/predators-trade-baptiste-to-toronto-for-future-considerations/c-305184234 | title = Predators trade Baptiste to Maple Leafs for future considerations | publisher = Nashville Predators | date = February 24, 2019 | accessdate = February 24, 2019}} He was assigned directly to the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, playing out the remainder of the season to collect 2 goals and 7 points in 18 games.

With his contract with the Maple Leafs concluded, Baptiste as a free agent opted to continue within the organization, signing a one-year AHL contract with the Marlies on August 15, 2019.{{cite web| url = http://marlies.ca/article/marlies-sign-nicholas-baptiste | title = Marlies sign Nicholas Baptiste | publisher = Toronto Marlies | date = August 15, 2019 | accessdate = August 15, 2019}} In the 2019–20 season, Baptiste recorded just 3 goals in 29 games with the Marlies before he was traded to the Belleville Senators in exchange for Miles Gendron on February 24, 2020.{{cite web | url = https://bellevillesens.com/sens-trade-baptiste/ | title = Sens trade for Baptiste | publisher = Belleville Senators | date = February 24, 2020 | accessdate = February 24, 2020 | archive-date = July 21, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210721180025/https://bellevillesens.com/sens-trade-baptiste/ | url-status = dead }}

As a free agent from the Senators, Baptiste continued his tenure in the AHL, signing a one-year AHL contract with the Texas Stars on January 23, 2021.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=January 23, 2021|title= Texas Stars announce signings of six forwards |url=http://www.texasstars.com/news/detail/texas-stars-announce-signings-of-six-forwards|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=January 25, 2021|website=Texas Stars}} Following the signing, Baptiste was named an alternate captain alongside Josh Melnick and captain Cole Schneider for the 2020–21 season.{{cite web |title=STARS NAME MELNICK AND BAPTISTE ALTERNATE CAPTAINS |url=https://www.texasstars.com/news/detail/stars-name-melnick-and-baptiste-alternate-captains |website=texasstars.com |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=March 2, 2021}} In the shortened season, Baptiste registered 12 goals and 24 points through 34 regular season games for Texas.

As a free agent, Baptiste opted to sign his first contract abroad, agreeing to a one-year deal with Finnish club, Ilves Tampere, of the Liiga, on July 21, 2021.{{cite web| url = https://www.ilves.com/kanadalaishyokkaaja-nicholas-baptiste-ilveksen-riveihin/ | title = Canadian forward Nicholas Baptiste joins Ilves | publisher = Ilves | date = July 21, 2021 | accessdate = July 21, 2021 | language = Finnish}} In the 2021–22 season, Baptiste quickly adapted to the European style, contributing with 21 goals and 35 points in 52 regular season games. He notched 5 goals in the playoffs, helping Ilves reach the semi-finals.

On July 4, 2022, Baptiste left Finland after agreeing to a one-year contract with German club, Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), for the 2022–23 season.{{cite web| publisher = Kölner Haie | url = https://www.haie.de/news/nick-baptiste-verstaerkt-kec-offensive/ | title = Nick Baptiste strengthens the Sharks attack | date = July 4, 2022 | accessdate = July 4, 2022 | language = German}} In his lone season in Germany, Baptiste contributed offensively with 14 goals and 34 points through 46 regular season games.

As a free agent Baptiste opted to leave the DEL and return to the Finnish Liiga, agreeing to a one-year contract with Tappara on June 22, 2023.{{cite web| url = https://www.tappara.fi/fi-fi/article/uutiset/pelaajasopimus-nicholas-baptiste-vahvistamaan-hyokkaysta/5570/ | title = Nicholas Baptiste signs contract with Tappara | publisher = Tappara | date = June 22, 2023 | accessdate = June 22, 2023 | language = Finnish}}

After a successful season with Tappara, Baptiste left at the conclusion of his contract and continued his career abroad in agreeing to a one-year deal with Russian club, Vityaz Moscow Region of the KHL, on May 29, 2024.{{citeweb| url = https://hcvityaz.ru/news.php/?detail=240855 | title = Vityaz roster expanded with Finnish Champion Nicholas Baptiste | publisher = HC Vityaz | date = May 29, 2024 | accessdate = May 29, 2024 | language = Russian }}