Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe used the word "challenging" to describe the start to his pro career.
Howe, one of the Penguins' second-round picks in 2024, underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in April after an injury cut his playoff run with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen and junior career short. The nine-month recovery time meant that he would miss the start of his first pro season.
"A lot of rehab, working out, trying to get in game shape to come back," he said of the long wait to make his AHL debut. "Jumping from junior to here. I knew it was going to be a big change, so I was just trying to be ready."
Howe first got into the lineup on Feb. 1, recording an assist on a power-play goal for his first professional point. In his next game three nights later, he got onto the score sheet again with a redirect for his first pro goal:
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 5, 2026
Howe once told me at the NHL's scouting combine before he was drafted by the Penguins that he tries to play "rat-style hockey" and model his game after players like Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk and Brendan Gallagher, but he was still someone who brought a lot off offense in junior, too. He finished his last season of junior hockey with 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 37 games.
Despite the circumstances of this year -- having to jump in midseason after a serious surgery, adjusting to a new league -- Howe was still able to put up pretty solid numbers for a rookie. He finished the regular season with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 27 games.
Howe told me that the biggest adjustments for him were "playing bigger, stronger guys. It's a faster game, guys are smarter, so it's just using your brain and trying to do the right things out there."
Howe has had decent success for his first playoff run, putting up three goals and two assists in 12 games. He had the goal that forced overtime in Game 2 of this series against the Marlies, just from going to the net and picking up a rebound:
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 30, 2026
The points might not be coming as consistently as Howe or the Penguins would want, but what has impressed the coaching staff is how Howe is still able to contribute when he's not contributing to the score sheet.
"He does a good job if he doesn't have his 'A' game," head coach Kirk MacDonald told me. "He finds a way to get through a game. The touch might not be there, whatever. Nobody's playing their 'A' game every game, right? But he always finds a way to have a positive impact in the game. His penalty-killing ability is outstanding. He's got a good touch around the net. He does a lot of really good things for us."
MacDonald lauded Howe's work ethic, maturity and professionalism as being behind the success he's been able to find through some real adversity.
Whenever Wilkes-Barre's season comes to an end and Howe returns home to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, he's hoping to get to work on his foot speed first and foremost in order to best set himself up for success for his first full pro season.
"Guys are fast in this league," he said. "You've got to be quick to get around guys and things like that. I think that's something that I can work on that can help my game."
Howe seems likely to start next season in the AHL. But it's not out of the question that he could be a late-season call up, and add some serious energy, physicality and net-front presence to the Penguins' bottom-six forwards.
THE ASYLUM
Howe finds footing after 'challenging' start
Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe used the word "challenging" to describe the start to his pro career.
Howe, one of the Penguins' second-round picks in 2024, underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in April after an injury cut his playoff run with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen and junior career short. The nine-month recovery time meant that he would miss the start of his first pro season.
"A lot of rehab, working out, trying to get in game shape to come back," he said of the long wait to make his AHL debut. "Jumping from junior to here. I knew it was going to be a big change, so I was just trying to be ready."
Howe first got into the lineup on Feb. 1, recording an assist on a power-play goal for his first professional point. In his next game three nights later, he got onto the score sheet again with a redirect for his first pro goal:
Howe once told me at the NHL's scouting combine before he was drafted by the Penguins that he tries to play "rat-style hockey" and model his game after players like Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk and Brendan Gallagher, but he was still someone who brought a lot off offense in junior, too. He finished his last season of junior hockey with 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 37 games.
Despite the circumstances of this year -- having to jump in midseason after a serious surgery, adjusting to a new league -- Howe was still able to put up pretty solid numbers for a rookie. He finished the regular season with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 27 games.
Howe told me that the biggest adjustments for him were "playing bigger, stronger guys. It's a faster game, guys are smarter, so it's just using your brain and trying to do the right things out there."
Howe has had decent success for his first playoff run, putting up three goals and two assists in 12 games. He had the goal that forced overtime in Game 2 of this series against the Marlies, just from going to the net and picking up a rebound:
The points might not be coming as consistently as Howe or the Penguins would want, but what has impressed the coaching staff is how Howe is still able to contribute when he's not contributing to the score sheet.
"He does a good job if he doesn't have his 'A' game," head coach Kirk MacDonald told me. "He finds a way to get through a game. The touch might not be there, whatever. Nobody's playing their 'A' game every game, right? But he always finds a way to have a positive impact in the game. His penalty-killing ability is outstanding. He's got a good touch around the net. He does a lot of really good things for us."
MacDonald lauded Howe's work ethic, maturity and professionalism as being behind the success he's been able to find through some real adversity.
Whenever Wilkes-Barre's season comes to an end and Howe returns home to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, he's hoping to get to work on his foot speed first and foremost in order to best set himself up for success for his first full pro season.
"Guys are fast in this league," he said. "You've got to be quick to get around guys and things like that. I think that's something that I can work on that can help my game."
Howe seems likely to start next season in the AHL. But it's not out of the question that he could be a late-season call up, and add some serious energy, physicality and net-front presence to the Penguins' bottom-six forwards.
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