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MEET THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ SIX PICKS AT THE 2024 DRAFT

Posted on by angelo

WILKES-BARRE, Pennsylvania. – The Pittsburgh Penguins may not have had a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, but that didn’t stop the Black & Gold from stockpiling solid talent in the later rounds.

Armed with a pair of second-round picks and (what ultimately turned out to be) a strategy to target players with deep hockey intelligence, Pittsburgh signed four defensemen and a pair of forwards Saturday in Las Vegas.

Here are the six new Penguins, in order of selection…

SECOND ROUND, 44th GENERALLY

Harrison Brunicke (D) Kamloops Blazers
The Penguins opted for a right-handed defenseman with their 2024 first-round pick, signing transition ace Harrison Brunicke.

He likes to get active in the offensive zone and in the push phase. His exit passes are often perfect, ranging from simple, underrated passes to long, long passes. He is an 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 to break up plays with his stick.

The development coaches will work on refining some decision-making and defensive structures over the next few years, but there is a fascinating skill set to work with here. Also, speaking of fascination, Brunicke grew up in Canada but was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the second South African to be chosen in the NHL draft, after Olaf Kölzig in 1989.
Brunicke will be eligible to play full-time in the AHL in 2026-27.

SECOND ROUND 46th GENERALLY

Tanner Howe (LW) Regina Pats
Just two picks later, Pittsburgh got a pit bull in Tanner Howe. The young man’s relentlessness makes him a respected leader by his teammates and a respected opponent by his opponents. But he doesn’t just buzz. He also produces offense.

Howe has scored a point per game in each of the last three seasons. Part of that can be attributed to the fact that the prolific Conor Bedard has been riding shotgun for a while, but he’s had to shoulder all of the offensive burden for the Pats this year and hasn’t shied away from the challenge. He possesses a deadly one-timer, scoring goals from the half-wall or high slot, but he will also roll up his sleeves and score ugly goals for his team.

Simply put, he’s a player who has the willingness to do the menial tasks that coaches and teammates love, and he always finds a way to contribute to the scoresheet. Howe will be eligible for the AHL for the 2025-26 season.

FOURTH ROUND 111TH GENERALLY

Chase Pietila (D) Michigan Technological University
It could soon become a family affair with the Penguins, as Pittsburgh used its fourth-round pick on the younger brother of recent Wilkes-Barre/Scranton signee Logan Pietila. Unlike Logan, Chase is a defenseman and had a very successful first season with the Huskies.

Chase led Michigan Tech defenders with 22 points (3G-19A), which also gave him fourth place on the team, one spot behind Logan. Chase isn’t dynamic with the puck on his stick, but he’s smart. His cerebral approach to the position makes him a reliable player in all three zones. We can always count on him to keep a solid stick and maintain perfect gaps.

Chase is already 20 years old, having been overlooked in the previous two NHL drafts. He’s technically AHL eligible next season, but it’s much more likely he returns to the Upper Peninsula for another year or two at Michigan Tech.

SIXTH ROUND 175th GENERALLY

Joona Väisänen (D) The Dubuque Fighting Saints
Once again, Pittsburgh is coming back and strengthening the defensive side of its pipeline with USHL First Team All-Star Joona Väisänen.

Undrafted last year despite good statistics in the Finnish junior league, this right-handed defender impressed many people with his mature and efficient game during his first season in North America. Under the tutelage of new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Kirk MacDonald, Väisänen dominated the team’s defense with 31 assists and 40 points. But it’s not all about the stats with this young man. He knows how to mitigate risk while finding open teammates, how to do it quickly and under pressure, and how to kill an incoming attack.

Väisänen never played professionally in Finland before joining Dubque to maintain his NCAA eligibility. He committed in the fall to Western Michigan University, a program that has proven effective at developing professional prospects in recent years.

SEVENTH ROUND 207TH GENERALLY

Mac Swanson (C) Force Fargo
The first of the two seventh-rounders was a player the Penguins were probably stunned was available there. A Clark Cup champion. The USHL playoff MVP. Playmaking center Mac Swanson.

Swanson’s hockey IQ is impressive, especially when it comes to producing offense for his teammates. He led the Fargo Force in assists (51) and points (77) during the regular season, then added five goals, 12 assists and 17 points during the playoffs. Penguins scouts reportedly got a good look at Swanson over the past two years in Fargo, when he played alongside Zam Plante, Pittsburgh’s 2022 draft pick.

You may be wondering why a player of this caliber was there in the seventh round? Well, he is 1.70 m tall and weighs 75 kg. Additionally, he is not an elite skater, an attribute that generally helps smaller skaters reach higher levels. That said, you can still practice your skating. You can’t teach the pure intellectual power that Swanson displays.

Swanson will attend the University of North Dakota this fall.

SEVENTH ROUND 223RD GENERALLY

Finn Harding (D) Mississauga Steelheads
The Penguins’ final pick in the 2024 NHL Draft was a fourth right-shot defenseman and another player who was passed over in the previous year’s draft. Finn Harding has taken a giant step forward since his rookie season in the OHL, becoming a reliable, all-situation defenseman for the Mississauga Steelheads.

His statistics don’t stand out, but Harding’s game improves over time. He’s the type of defenseman who can calm things down for his team, whether it’s stopping opponents’ transition attack or quickly avoiding a forecheck and delivering the puck safely to a teammate. His skating and defensive positioning have been his biggest improvements from last year to now. He also knows how to stay disciplined without fading.

Harding may still have a long way to go to become an NHL player, but his improvements in several key areas earn him the chance with the penultimate pick in the draft. He will be eligible for the AHL in 2025-2026.