The Scouting Report:
Tanner Howe is an 18-year-old forward prospect eligible for the 2024 NHL entry draft in Las Vegas. Born in Prince Albert, Canada. Having played for the Regina Pats for the previous three seasons, Howe comes into the draft as a second round prospect with the potential to be picked late in the first round. Howe, the Pats’ captain this past season after former Regina teammate Connor Bedard was drafted, put up solid numbers with 28 goals and 77 points on a team that was one of the worst teams in the Western Hockey League in 2024.
Draft Projections:
Ranked #49 by EliteProspects.com
Ranked #25 by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked #42 by Daily Faceoff
Ranked #41 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #35 by Dobber Prospects
Ranked #35 by Inside the Rink
I’ve highlighted some of Tanner Howe’s attributes. Let’s take a deeper dive into his attributes and areas for improvement.
Diving Deeper:
The 5-foot-10-inch, 181-pound forward has a very refined game in which he does most things on the ice very well. While some might consider Howe as “a jack of all trades but master of none,” the forward’s growth as a potential NHL’er might be as simple as another year of development in the WHL and some time in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Attribute 1: Motor
Howe’s high motor is immediately jump when watching his games. The smaller-sized forward loves to play through contact and is always finding himself engaged in a play. He is also not afraid to get the front of the net to bang in greasy goals.
Howe has understated skating ability. His small area quickness, and agility, leads to escapes in the offensive zone, which lead to scoring chances. Howe isn’t the kind of player who will roll over the boards in key defensive scenarios or on one of the penalty killing units.
Jason Bukala – Sportsnet – Feb. 27, 2024
Attribute 2: Hockey IQ
Howe’s abilities on both sides of the ice also show off his impressive hockey IQ. He always seems to be two steps ahead of every play. Defensively, he finds himself in the right positions and always looking towards the puck.
Areas for Improvement:
As mentioned earlier, Howe has a very refined game without any major flaws. While his physical size might scare off some teams and their scouts, that shouldn’t be held against Howe. More than anything else, Howe could fine-tune either his defensive game or work on expanding his offensive game to a NHL level in order to grow.
Prospect Potential:
Howe currently projects as a two-way middle-six forward at the NHL level if he can make improvements to his game. With the right development, Howe could turn into a full-time top-six forward, comparable to Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers, if Howe finds a way to expand his offensive game. Additionally, Howe could also develop into a penalty kill specialist with his dependable puck-handling and defensive positioning.
Best Potential Fit:
Howe’s skills make him a solid potential choice for almost every team. One team that could use a very safe prospect like Howe are the Calgary Flames. With the Flames potentially more focused on the future after trading several veterans during the season, including Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, and Chris Tanev, Howe would strengthen their farm system.
Final Thoughts:
With proper development, Howe might end up as a potential steal in the second round for teams looking for a strong two-way forward. With his motor and hockey IQ, Howe will bring a lot to the table for whichever team drafts him.
Stats via Elite Prospects
Highlights via MyNHLDraft.com
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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