Peyton Kettles entered the NHL Draft with a strong hunch that the Pittsburgh Penguins were circling, a feeling reinforced by teammate Owen Pickering, the 2022 first-round pick who had already made his mark in the league. The two shared a locker room with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, giving Pickering a front-row seat to Kettles' development and a natural channel to relay draft-night intelligence. Kettles' connection to a proven top-10 selection likely bolstered his stock in the eyes of Pittsburgh's front office, who have built a reputation for identifying skilled, physically tough forwards with strong hockey sense. The draft night reveal adds a personal and somewhat lighthearted layer to what is often a high-pressure, behind-the-closed-doors process.

Going into his draft, Peyton Kettles had a feeling Pittsburgh was interested. That’s because 2022 first-round pick Owen Pickering, his teammate with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos, mentioned that ...