2024 second-rounder Tanner Howe’s growth shall be on maintain for fairly some time. The Penguins ahead prospect underwent ACL reconstruction surgical procedure on his proper knee and can want 9 months of restoration time, the group announced.
It’s a horrible blow for Howe, whom Pittsburgh chosen with the No. 46 general choose in 2024. A longtime linemate of Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard when the 2 have been with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, Howe has a powerful scoring observe file in main junior play. He’s held his personal with out Bedard, ending his post-draft season with 18-28–46 in 47 video games with Regina and the Calgary Hitmen.
Howe missed a bit of the Hitmen’s postseason run as a result of his knee damage however nonetheless managed to publish 2-7–9 in six video games to finish the 12 months. Since he turns 20 in November, he was trying to make the leap to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton within the fall and make his skilled debut. That shall be placed on maintain whereas Howe misses coaching camp and at the very least the primary half of 2025-26 recuperating from a severe process.
The hope is that by lacking valuable growth time now, Howe isn’t jeopardizing his profession by exacerbating his damage. Nonetheless, the high-energy 5’11”, 183-lb winger makes use of velocity an important a part of his recreation, making such a major knee damage this early in his profession trigger for concern.
Howe ranked because the No. 6 prospect in Pittsburgh’s system when Scott Wheeler of The Athletic did his midseason rankings, putting second amongst left-wingers behind No. 1 Rutger McGroarty. He’s received a foreseeable path towards being a middle-six fixture for the Pens down the highway if he can correctly heal from this surgical procedure.
