Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced today that the club has signed Tanner Howe to a three-year, entry-level contract.
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Howe was selected in the second round, No. 46 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas.
Howe spent the 2023-24 season with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he compiled 28 goals and 49 assists for 77 points, leading all Pats’ skaters.
Howe started to make a name for himself while playing with current Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard, narrowly missing the 90-point mark during the 2022-23 season. Even when Bedard moved on to the NHL, Howe proved he can be an efficient scoring threat. He is a hard-working player that battles hard along the boards, and has a little bit of a pest-like mindset while fighting for the puck.
“Howe was a high-end scorer again this year,” Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis said. “He loves to compete, but his skating and smaller frame don’t help. Despite that, Howe battles for pucks and has the energy that can make him more valuable if he isn’t cast into a scoring role.”
The Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native has scored 92 goals and 141 assists for 233 points in 207 games with the Pats.
Howe has also represented his country on the international stage. He played on Team Canada at the 2022 and 2023 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship, helping the Canadians win bronze last year. Howe was a key part of the team that took home the gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Howe was the Penguins’ second selection by the Penguins at the 2024 NHL Draft, the first being Kamloops Blazers defenseman Harrison Brunicke at No. 44 overall.
