WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Pittsburgh Penguins may not have had a first-round pick at this year’s 2024 NHL Entry Draft, but that didn’t stop the Black & Gold from stockpiling some solid talent in the later rounds.
Armed with a pair of second round picks and (what eventually revealed itself to be) a strategy to target players with high hockey intelligence, Pittsburgh picked up four defensemen and a pair of forwards on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Here are the six newest Penguins, in order of selection…
SECOND ROUND, 44TH OVERALL
Harrison Brunicke (D) Kamloops Blazers
The Penguins went with a right-handed defenseman with their first pick of 2024, locking up transition ace Harrison Brunicke.
He loves activate on the rush and in the offensive zone. His outlet feeds are often perfect, ranging from the simple and underrated to the long-distance stretch passes. He’s a shifty, agile and athletic skater, which he uses to his advantage at both ends of the ice. He uses his 6-foot-3 frame to his advantage in wall battles and breaking up plays with his stick.
Development coaches will be working to refine some decision-making and defensive structure over the next several years, but there is a fascinating skillset to work with here. Also, on the topic of fascinations, Brunicke was raised in Canada but born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the second South African-born NHL draft pick, joining Olaf Kölzig in 1989.
Brunicke will be eligible to play in the AHL full-time in 2026-27.
SECOND ROUND 46TH OVERALL
Tanner Howe (LW) Regina Pats
Just two picks later, Pittsburgh scooped up a pitbull in Tanner Howe. This young man’s relentlessness makes him a respected leader for his teammates and a respected adversary to opponents. But he doesn’t just buzz around. He produces offense, too.
Howe has been a point-per-game player in each of the last three seasons. Part of that can be attributed to riding shotgun to the prolific Conor Bedard for a while, but he had to shoulder the Pats’ entire offensive burden this year and did not balk at the challenge. He boasts a killer one-timer, cranking in goals from the half-wall or high slot, but he’ll also roll up his sleeves and whack in some ugly goals for his team.
Simply put, this is a player who has the willingness to do the thankless jobs that coaches and teammates love, and he still finds ways to contribute on the scoresheet. Howe will be AHL eligible for the 2025-26 season.
FOURTH ROUND 111TH OVERALL
Chase Pietila…
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