Howe gearing up for 2024 NHL Draft
Regina, Sask. – Regina Pats captain Tanner Howe will have his named called in the 2024 NHL Draft, but the question is when and by who?
Howe just completed his fourth season with the Regiment in 2023-24, leading the Pats goals (28), assists (49), points (77), power play points (23) and games this past season, playing in all 68 games for the first time in his career. Recently, the 18-year-old attended the NHL Combine in Buffalo, New York, participating in fitness testing and interviews with NHL clubs.
“It was so fun,” Howe explained. “Going there and meeting new guys, especially with me being a late birthday was great. Building new friendships and obviously the meetings were pretty cool. When you walk into a room and you see six guys there, it’s pretty intense and you start to shake a little bit but once you get through the first one, it gets easier. I thought it was good and the testing was good, too.
The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft will take place June 28-29 at Sphere in Las Vegas. The first round will be June 28 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS) and Rounds 2-7 are June 29 (11 a.m. ET; ESPN+. NHLN, SN, SN1). This will be what is reported as the last in-person draft before the NHL goes to a remote draft like other major leagues in North America such as the NFL and MLB.
The Prince Albert, Sask. product grew up a huge hockey fan, going to countless Prince Albert Raiders games growing up alongside his younger brother Connor Howe who was just recently drafted by the Raiders in May. Howe was immediately put on skates as a young boy by his father Jason who also has a huge passion for hockey. Being a big hockey fan himself, Howe said one of the coolest moments was meeting legends Steve Yzerman and Jerome Iginla at the combine.
“When I walked into Detroit’s [Red Wings] room, I got to meet Steve Yzerman,” Howe recalled. “Him asking you questions and starring at you right in the eyes was pretty intense but it was super cool to meet him and shake his hand, and get to talk to him. Jerome Iginla was in Calgary’s [Flames] room and he was nice enough to share a story about playing with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. It was pretty cool to see him, too.”
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – JUNE 06: Tanner Howe poses for a portrait during the 2024 NHL Scouting Combine at the HarborCenter on June 06, 2024 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHL via Getty Images)
Howe been waiting for this week for more than a year after seeing his close friend and former line mate Connor Bedard get selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the first-overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft last June. The 2005-born forward had to wait until this years NHL Draft due to his November 28th birthday, and his expected to go in the top three rounds according to these rankings:
- Ranked #49 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
- Ranked #25 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
- Ranked #45 by FCHOCKEY
- Ranked #43 by DAILY FACEOFF
- Ranked #41 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
- Ranked #40 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
TSN’s Bob McKenzie has Howe going in the first-round while several other pre-draft lists expect Howe to be selected in the second round. Regardless of the result, it will still be a dream come true for Howe who looks to become the 32nd player all-time to be drafted from Prince Albert, and the first since Braden Schneider (New York Rangers, RD #1 – 19th) in 2020.
In fact, 21 players all-time have played at least one NHL game from the city of Prince Albert. Although that might be a few years away for Howe, he’s still excited about journey ahead.
“It’ll mean everything,” Howe said. “You look at the City of Prince Albert, and their are so many great players to come out of there. You look at Braden Schneider, Dave Manson and Rob Dallman who used to be my old coach, and even Kelly Guard. There are so many. It’s be pretty special for the community. PA is all about hockey, and we love our hockey there. You look at the Art Hauser, and when the Raiders play, everyone is screaming and yelling. Look back at 2019 when the Raiders won [the WHL Championship] people were standing on milk crates to watch. That’ll be awesome. Hockey in PA will only get bigger.”
The 5-foot-11, 182 lb. left-shot forward who plays both left wing and centre hit the 200 game mark near the end of the season and has missed just one game over the last two seasons. The first-year captain now ranks T-65th in franchise history in games (207), 57th in goals (92), 34th in assists (141) and T-44th in points (233). For a second straight season, Howe reached 49 assists as well as 20+ goals for a third season, and the 60+ point mark for a third straight year.
“We’re all just really excited to get out there, and have sort of a family vacation,” Howe said. “We will get to see what Vegas is all about, and what NHL team I’ll go to. I think we’re [my family] is super excited to see all the hard work pay off, but when that happens, a new job starts.”
Regardless of the result and which NHL team selects Howe, the veteran forward knows that the journey continues to his ultimate goal of reaching the NHL.
“You just have to keep doing what you’re doing,” he added. “Just because you get drafted, doesn’t mean you can slack off. That’s when you have to do extra, and a little more to get to that next level and play against men. Once your name gets called, you want to make it and use that as motivation. That means doing extra reps to get better, giving yourself a better chance which means getting bigger and stronger.”
It was just four years ago that the Pats drafted Howe in the fourth round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. Prior to joining the Pats, Howe thought about going the college route and playing for the Weyburn Red Wings of the SJHL. When the Pats got wind of this, they inked the two-way forward. That season, Howe played in the WHL shortened 2020-21 season at 15-years-old before making the Pats full time at 18-years-old in 2021-22.
Soon he will have a chance to hear his name called by an NHL club in the top three rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft.
“I’m super proud of myself,” he explained. “A lot of people have been apart of this journey. Growing up in PA, there’s not a lot of ice, so in the summer you’re driving to Saskatoon twice or three times a week. My parents have been really big for that. Spending a lot of money and using their time on me. Even all the other trainers, equipment managers and coaches I’ve had over the years. I’m proud because I believe when you work hard and dedicate your life to it, good things happen.”
