When teams battle injuries, they must move players around in the lineup. For the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, that means playing rookies at center and moving players like Tanner Howe, who has only played 20 games at the American Hockey League level, up in the lineup.
Howe started his AHL tenure as a depth forward. With the Penguins battling injuries and the NHL team calling up a few of their prospects, he’s moved to the Joona Koppanen and Rafael Harvey-Pinard line. “They get pucks back, they don’t spend a lot of time in their defensive zone, they drive play,” head coach Kirk MacDonald noted after the 5-1 win on Sunday in a conversation with The Hockey News. Howe moved to the top line and made the most of the opportunity, scoring a goal and adding three assists in the win.
Howe’s Versatility is His Best Attribute
Howe doesn’t have a burst of speed or drive the play offensively. It’s why he’s usually on the third line or playing in a depth role. That said, he has a scoring touch and makes the right plays to get the offense going.
Moreover, Howe has a work ethic that stands out. “He‘s done everything we’ve asked from him and more,” MacDonald added after the recent game. It’s how he fits in on the Koppanen and Harvey-Pinard line and had four points in the 5-1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
In the AHL, versatility is a key to success. The Penguins have a few players they can move around in the lineup, and Howe has become one of them just 20 games into his tenure. “It’s an underrated skill to slot him in anywhere,” MacDonald mentioned, noting how Howe has become a key part of the forward group down the stretch.
Where Howe Has Made The Most Progress
Howe is from a junior hockey background, spending a few years in the Western Hockey League (WHL) before joining the Penguins. It’s made the adjustment tougher, especially in his first year. Howe went from playing with kids to playing with borderline NHLers.
He’s gotten faster and is a better overall skater. “I think his pace, he’s come from juniors, where it’s slower. He’s done a good job pushing himself, playing with pace, and making quicker decisions,” MacDonald mentioned on Sunday night.
Howe is keeping up with the rest of the league and making better plays with the puck. It’s how he can set up the offense and create scoring chances even without that burst of speed. For the Penguins, this lets them move him up the lineup where he can play on the top line when needed.
He’s A Valuable Part of the Penguins Late-Season Success
The Penguins aren’t a dominant team as they head into the playoffs, certainly not the same team that began the season. They have elite goaltending but the offense hasn’t been the same with Tristan Broz out and Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty, and Ville Koivunen all moving up and down from the NHL and AHL. The Penguins need the younger players to step up, and Howe is one of them.
Howe can step up in any role, and the playoffs are when teams must adjust to win any type of game. The rookie winger is one of the players who can do just that and step up into a bigger role if needed.