Penguins Sign Second Rounder Brunicke to ELC

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a pair of second-round picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, and both are now signed after defenseman Harrison Brunicke signed his three-year entry-level contract Thursday evening.

Terms were not released, but the current maximum amount is $975,000 per season, per NHL.com.

Brunicke, 18, was the 44th overall pick and the first of the Penguins’ two second-round selections. Tanner Howe was the second selection at No. 46 overall.

Brunicke is a 6-foot-3, 196-pound right-handed defenseman drafted from Kamloops of the WHL and was born in South Africa. He would be the first skater born in that country to make it to the NHL (goalie Olaf Kolzig was the first South African-born player to play in the NHL).

Last season, he scored 10 goals with 21 points in 49 games.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now gave him positive reviews after the Penguins’ recent development camp at the UPMC Lemieux Complex.

Read more: Penguins Rookie Camp Gets Intense; Standouts and Surprises.

Unless he makes the NHL roster, Brunicke is not eligible to turn pro for two more years, and his entry-level contract will slide until then.