Penguins sign defenseman Daniel Laatsch to entry-level deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed a member of their 2021 NHL Draft class, 23-year-old defenseman Daniel Laatsch, to a two-year entry-level contract, the club announced Monday afternoon.

Laatsch, picked by the Penguins four years ago in the seventh round (215th overall), turns professional following four collegiate seasons at Wisconsin, where he scored six goals with 20 assists over 126 games.

Not all heroes wear capes ????

Laatsch tallies his SECOND overtime game-winning goal of the year! pic.twitter.com/QiHDlfpyQF

— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 16, 2024

His contract will begin in 2025-26 and runs through 2026-27.

A 6-foot-5 left-handed shot, Laatsch was an alternate captain for Wisconsin this past season but saw his campaign ended after 22 games in January because of injury.

In 2023-24, he contributed two goals and nine assists for the Badgers in a career-high 40 games.

An alumnus of the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League as well as the U.S. National Development Program, Laatsch hails from Altoona, Wis.

Of the Penguins’ five-man 2021 draft class (which notably featured University of Denver winger Tristan Broz, now with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League), only 22-year-old forward Kirill Tankov remains unsigned.

The Yurga, Russia, native is currently playing in the KHL.

Defenseman Isaac Belliveau turned pro in early 2023 while the final member of the Penguins’ 2021 draft class, blueliner Ryan McCleary, had his NHL rights yielded by the club in June of 2023.