Penguins Hold; Select Scoring Winger Liam Ruck in First Round
Pittsburgh Hockey Now • • sports
Key Points:
- The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Liam Ruck, an 18-year-old high-scoring right-shot winger from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, with the 22nd overall pick in the NHL Draft, continuing their trend of choosing top prospects from the WHL.
- Ruck scored an impressive 45 goals and 104 points in 68 games last season, showcasing strong offensive and defensive play, and also contributed eight goals in 14 playoff games.
- He played alongside his twin brother Markus, who is projected to be picked early in the second round, and the Penguins also hold the 39th overall pick, possibly allowing them to select Markus as well.
- Ruck aims to improve his skating explosiveness and physical strength, and he expressed enthusiasm about working with the Penguins' development staff to enhance his game.
- The Penguins’ amateur scout Dan McLean has been key in their recent WHL-focused draft strategy, with Ruck being the fifth consecutive top pick from the league, and Ruck is expected to attend the University of North Dakota in 2027-28 but could play in the AHL earlier if signed.
