6'5" Defensive Prospect Moving Closer to Becoming Regular Member of the Penguins
Photo credit: DK Pittsburgh Sports
Towering Pittsburgh Penguins defensive prospect Daniel Laatsch, who recently signed a 2-year entry level contract, is one step closer to becoming an NHL regular.
Don't be surprised to see towering Pittsburgh Penguins defensive prospect Daniel Laatsch become a regular member of the Pittsburgh blue line before long.
Having recently signed a 2-year entry level contract with the team, Laatsch recently completed his senior year with the Wisconsin Badgers, where he was an assistant captain.
Unfortunately, his year came to a close after suffering a torn labrum that required surgery to repair.
The Penguins took him with the 215th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but he continued his college career with the Badgers and would be named the 2023 Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off Most Outstanding Defenseman.
Per Seth Rorabaugh of The Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Laatsch will likely begin this fall with the ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailors or the AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Presuming a full recovery, Laatsch will report to either Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League or Wheeling of the ECHL to open the 2025-26 season to begin his professional career.
He expressed his excitement about signing an official contract with the Penguins, noting how he had admired the career of Sidney Crosby as a youngster.
I'm super excited about signing with Pittsburgh. They are a great organization and it's really something you dream about as you're growing up. I remember playing in a 3-on-3 hockey tournament when I was a kid here in Wisconsin, and our team all had Penguin No. 87 jerseys for the tournament. So it really is a dream come true for me and I plan on working very hard to help Pittsburgh in the future.
| POLL | ||
MAI 27 | 99 ANSWERS 6'5" Defensive Prospect Moving Closer to Becoming Regular Member of the Penguins What is the ceiling of Penguins prospect defenseman Daniel Laatsch? | ||
| Top-four defenseman | 33 | 33.3 % |
| Bottom pairing defenseman | 48 | 48.5 % |
| Career AHL'er | 18 | 18.2 % |
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