Penguins keep Ruck twins together at NHL draft

BUFFALO – Markus Ruck was ecstatic for his sibling. There was additionally a big stage of hysteria.

Liam Ruck — teammate, linemate and twin brother — was chosen by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the twenty second choose throughout Friday evening’s first spherical of the NHL draft.

Markus, who’s eight minutes older, was nonetheless ready for his identify to be known as when the household returned to their resort.

Would one other workforce take him early Saturday when proceedings resumed on the world flooring at KeyBank Middle? Would the Penguins seize him at No. 39? And even commerce up the board to make sure the band stayed collectively?

“I used to be fairly burdened,” Markus stated. “(Liam) informed me every little thing’s gonna be OK and can work itself out.”

The twins, ultimately, received their want. And may lastly exhale.

Pittsburgh chosen Markus Ruck seven picks into the second spherical — reuniting the brothers and fulfilling a dream the Osoyoos, B.C., merchandise have shared since first lacing up their skates.

“I used to be simply praying and hoping,” he stated. “To have that occur, there’s not many phrases to explain it. It’s so particular.”

The 18-year-old forwards, who’ve by no means spent greater than 4 days aside since beginning, are coming off banner seasons with the Medication Hat Tigers that noticed them end 1-2 in scoring throughout your entire Canadian Hockey League.

Markus, a playmaking centre, put up 108 factors (21 targets, 87 assists), whereas Liam registered 104 factors (45 targets, 59 assists) as a shooter on the wing.

“We knew it was gonna be very robust for a workforce to do that,” Markus stated of staying along with an NHL group. “We simply can’t thank Pittsburgh sufficient … we knew it was a fairly low likelihood to be trustworthy. We couldn’t be extra excited.”

The Rucks are slated to play yet one more Western Hockey League marketing campaign in Alberta earlier than heading to the College of North Dakota in 2027-28.

Liam stated after getting picked Friday his fingers had been crossed Pittsburgh’s administration workforce led by president and common supervisor Kyle Dubas would additionally tab his brother.

“It’s a particular bond we’ve received,” he stated within the moments after going No. 22. “I’m simply going to be simply as completely satisfied to see him get drafted, as a result of we’ve been by means of every little thing collectively. It was a particular hug.”

The brothers each stand six ft tall, whereas Liam is 10 kilos heavier at 177. Liam was pegged because the Twentieth-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. Markus slotted in at No. 23.

“I didn’t actually care when (Pittsburgh) picked me,” Markus stated Saturday, the reduction on his face obvious. “I knew the place I needed to go and who I needed to be with.”

The Vancouver Canucks opened the second spherical by taking Brooks Rogowski at No. 33.

The six-foot-seven centre from Brighton, Mich., was centered on baseball — his father, Casey, and uncle, Ryan, had been each drafted by main league groups — earlier than zeroing in hockey.

“This was the suitable determination,” he stated. “I feel that they’re very happy with that.”

The Calgary Flames selected winger Chase Harrington at No. 36 earlier than Vancouver took winger Niklas Aaram-Olsen at No. 41. Calgary made Tobias Trejbal the primary goaltender off the board one choose later.

The Ottawa Senators selected winger Alan Shaikhlislamov at No. 55, the Montreal Canadiens chosen Timofei Runtso at No. 57, the Edmonton Oilers received centre Rudolfs Berzkalns at No. 58, and the Toronto Maple Leafs grabbed defenceman Alexander Bilecki at No. 60.

After choosing Gavin McKenna at No. 1 on Friday, Toronto additionally dealt blueliner Brandon Carlo, who was acquired from the Boston Bruins forward of the March 2025 commerce deadline for centre Fraser Minten and a first-round choose, to the St. Louis Blues for a pair of 2026 third-rounders.

The Vegas Golden Knights would have picked 63rd, however had been docked their second-round choose as a part of the punishment for “flagrant violations” of the league’s media rules in the course of the second spherical of the playoffs.

The Flames took winger Joe Iginla — son of former captain and franchise legend Jarome Iginla — with the sixty fifth choose to kick off the third spherical earlier than including centre Egor Barabanov (No. 100), ahead Simon Katolicky (No. 132) and defenceman Bode Laylin (No. 164) to finish their draft.

Toronto used 4 alternatives within the third spherical — together with the pair acquired for Carlo — including defenceman Ethan MacKenzie (No. 69), winger Zach Olsen (No. 73), blueliner Mans Gudmundsson (No. 76) and netminder Juuso Ainasto (No. 85).

The Maple Leafs then added goaltender Patriks Plumins (No. 114), centre Cooper Williams (No. 158), defenceman Yaroslav Fedoseyev (No. 161) and winger Brody Pepoy (No. 169).

The Jets picked goaltender Samuel Hrenak (No. 71), winger Zach Wooten (No. 116), defenceman Alexandre Taillefer (No. 135), centre Landon Hafele (No. 167), defenceman Alofa Tunoa Ta’Amu (No. 199) and netminder John Parsons (No. 220).

The Senators selected winger Adam Nemec (No. 72), centre Oscar Holmertz (No. 87), ahead Louis-Felix Bourque (No. 91), goaltender Elliot Lennon (No. 110) together with defencemen Harris Pangretitsch (No. 151) and Alexander Grunin (No. 183).

The Oilers chosen winger Malcolm Gastrin (No. 84), defenceman Andrew Robinson (No. 133), centre Caden Harvey (No. 180) and goaltender Ryan Cameron (No. 212).

The Canucks picked wingers Yaroslav Bryzgalov (No. 97), Connor Davis (No. 129), Lucian Bernat (No. 176) and blueliner Samuel Eriksson (No. 184).

The Canadiens took defencemen Cooper Cleaves (No. 93) and Brayden Klimpke (No. 117), wingers Parker Trottier (No. 189) and Wesley Royston (No. 190), blueliner Jean-Samuel Daigneault (No. 221) and ahead Tyler Deakos (No. 224) win the draft’s remaining choice.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed June 27, 2026.