Penguins Draft Markus Ruck 39th Overall

The 18-year-old climbed draft boards steadily throughout the season due to his elite hockey IQ and ability to create offense for his teammates. Ruck is an intriguing prospect due to his vision and playmaking ability. He processes the game at a high level and is consistently identifying passing lanes and manipulating opposing defensemen to create opportunities.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

“Playing off that last point, Ruck doesn’t shy away from the net front. He’s a threat to tip in pucks from there, though it’ll be interesting to see how that translates to higher levels with bigger and stronger defensemen.

Even though he’s a touch on the lighter side for a center, Ruck wins a lot of his puck battles. His positioning and stick skills are exceptional, giving him the edge over bulkier defensemen.

Defensively, Ruck played more off-puck in my viewings, but that’s one of the better areas of his game. He was highly successful in exiting the defensive zone with possession, making him a true two-way centerman.

One notable downside with Ruck is his lack of goalscoring. Across 132 career regular-season WHL games, he recorded just 29 goals (0.22 per game) and 193 shots (1.46 per game). Even if the playmaking and defense help him carve out a future as an NHL regular, the goal-scoring upside is a question mark.”

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How This Affects the Penguins

Drafting Ruck gives the Penguins another highly intelligent offensive forward, and more importantly, it allows them to keep one of junior hockey’s most productive duos together. After selecting his twin brother, Liam, in the first round, Pittsburgh doubled down on skill and chemistry by adding Markus. He was the WHL’s leading scorer and an elite playmaker who has spent virtually his entire career alongside his brother.

With the Penguins in the midst of reshaping their future, the selection adds another layer of high-end skill to an already improving prospect pool. The possibility of the Ruck twins developing together gives Pittsburgh a unique opportunity to build around a pair of forwards with proven chemistry and offensive instincts. If their junior success translates to the professional level, the Penguins may have found two cornerstone pieces capable of helping the organization’s next era.