Penguins take 4 right-handed defensemen in NHL Draft

LAS VEGAS — Right-handed defensemen are generally tougher to find than left-handed defensemen in all levels of hockey.

And the Pittsburgh Penguins are no different, particularly in terms of their organizational depth among prospects and minor leaguers. The starboard side of the blue line from the NHL roster to prospects still in the junior ranks was lean before Saturday.

At this weekend’s NHL Draft in the Sphere entertainment venue, the Penguins used four of their six picks on right-handed blueliners.

But as Penguins director of amateur scouting Nick Pryor outlined, that was more of a coincidence than any kind of specific directive to stock the cupboard at any one position.

“We kind of talk about what we have and what we don’t have and what we’d like to add,” Pryor said after his team’s final selection Saturday. “Where we’re at right now, we want to add to every position of the prospect pool. It’s more the way the board fell. It just so happened that with right-shot (defensemen), we were able to add to that.”

The Penguins did not have a selection in the first round Friday. Here’s a look at the six selections they made Saturday.

2nd round (No. 44 overall): Harrison Brunicke, defenseman

BRUNICKE GETS THE PARTY STARTED! ???? pic.twitter.com/Rpz801CjLp

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) November 25, 2023

Primary 2023-24 team, league: Kamloops Blazers, Western Hockey League (WHL)

Statistics: 49 games, 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists)

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 196 pounds

Shoots: Right

Notes: Brunicke is a native of South Africa who moved to Alberta at a young age. … The Penguins acquired this pick from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the trade for All-Star forward Jake Guentzel on March 7

Pryor’s scouting report: “Mobile, a long-rangy defenseman who moves well. He’s got a puck game, and he’s physical as well. He’s got a lot of attributes that made him attractive to us. Anytime you can find a defenseman that moves like that at that size and can move the puck as well is really attractive.”

2nd round (No. 46 overall): Tanner Howe, forward

Tanner Howe, checking in!@WHLPats pic.twitter.com/htauidvsSy

— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 8, 2023

Primary 2023-24 team, league: Regina Pats, WHL

Statistics: 68 games, 77 points (28 goals, 49 assists)

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 183 pounds

Shoots: Left

Notes: Howe was linemates with current Chicago Blackhawks star Conor Bedard during the 2022-24 season then replaced Bedard as captain of the Pats after Bedard was the first overall selection of the 2023 NHL Draft.

Pryor’s scouting report: “A highly competitive player. Undersized in stature. But he’s a strong kid for being undersized. High-compete, a high-motor player that has skill and offense to his game as well. We were really excited to get Tanner. We felt good about the spot that we got him.”

4th round (No. 111 overall): Chase Pietila, defenseman

Chase Pietila makes it 3-0 from Jed Pietila! #mtuhky #FollowTheHuskies pic.twitter.com/WoCusmrJ3P

— Michigan Tech Hockey (@mtuhky) March 3, 2024

Primary 2023-24 team, league: Michigan Tech, NCAA

Statistics: 40 games, 22 points (three goals, 22 assists)

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 187 pounds

Shoots: Right

Notes: An “over-ager” at 20, Pietila was a member of the Youngstown Phantoms 2022-23 team that won the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Clark Cup. … Brother Logan Pietila is a forward who is signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an American Hockey League contract for 2024-25.

Pryor’s scouting report: “Had a really good year, obviously this being his third year eligible (to be drafted) this year. He’s got size, he’s got physicality, he defends really well. He can move the puck on the breakout and in transition. It was nice to see the year that he had. He made progress from his time in the USHL then developed into a really good defenseman for Michigan Tech this year. Just really liked the competitiveness that he brings and the size and the ability to move the puck.”

6th round (No. 175 overall): Joona Vaisanen, defenseman

EP dishes. Joona finishes.#HalosHigh https://t.co/vEaErBqZ1X pic.twitter.com/x8pKQbanJC

— Dubuque Fighting Saints (@fightingsaints) November 25, 2023

Primary 2023-24 team, league: Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL

Statistics: 53 games, 40 points (nine goals, 31 assists)

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 176 pounds

Shoots: Right

Notes: Played with Dubuque for coach Kirk MacDonald, who was hired as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s coach July 19. … Vaisanen, a native of Finland, is committed to Western Michigan University for the 2024-25 season.

Pryor’s scouting report: “Smooth skating defenseman that moves the puck really well on the breakout, in transition, in the offensive zone, on the power play. Just a really good skater and a really good puck mover. He defends really well. He uses his feet and stick to defend and close plays.”

7th round (No. 207 overall): Mac Swanson, forward

MAC SWANSON :13 SECONDS INTO THE FIRST PERIOD???? pic.twitter.com/FUCZVFDMZK

— xy - Fargo Force (@FargoForce) May 5, 2024

Primary 2023-24 team, league: Fargo Force, USHL

Statistics: 55 games, 77 points (26 goals, 51 assists)

Height: 5-foot-7

Weight: 165 pounds

Shoots: Left

Notes: Helped the Force win the Clark Cup last season. … Won several USHL awards last season including player of the year for the regular season and postseason MVP. … Played in Fargo with forward Zam Plante, a Penguins fifth-round pick in 2022. … Native of Alaska. … Committed to the University of North Dakota for next season.

Pryor’s scouting report: “The motor that he plays with. It’s the intelligence that he has as well as his skill. If you’re going to draft a (5-foot-8) guy, you want to make sure that he’s competitive. We believe Mac is a competitive player.”

7th round (No. 223 overall): Finn Harding, defenseman

Today's lesson: How to tie up a hockey game.
Your instructor: Finn Harding. https://t.co/J852KctaNs pic.twitter.com/tL8Rm26nAv

— Brampton Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) November 29, 2023

Primary 2023-24 team, league: Mississauga Steelheads, Ontario Hockey League

Statistics: 68 games, 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists)

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 201 pounds

Shoots: Right

Notes: Another “over-ager” at 19, Harding went undrafted in 2023.

Pryor’s scouting report: “Smart, intelligent defender. He’s a guy that takes pride in his own end. He’s a high-character kid. We just felt good about the progress that he made. He takes pride in his defensive play, and he can move the puck as well.”