Pittsburgh Penguins fans got a boost in the draft when the team selected WHL star Peyton Kettles, a player who had been building buzz throughout the season with the Swift Current Broncos. Kettles, who shares a hometown connection with fellow Broncos teammate Owen Pickering — a 2022 first-round pick — reportedly had a hunch Pittsburgh was circling before his name was even called. The selection highlights the Penguins' continued investment in young North American talent and their willingness to tap into the Western Hockey League for high-upside prospects.

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 ...