Penguins sign Daniel Laatsch to entry-level contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Monday that the club has signed defenseman Daniel Laatsch to a two-year, entry-level contract that will begin in the 2025-26 season.

Originally chosen by the Penguins in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Laatsch is currently skating in his fourth season with the NCAA’s Wisconsin Badgers where through 22 outings he has has scored twice and added three assists for five points coupled with two penalty minutes and a plus-one rating. In all, through four seasons and 126 total appearances with the Badgers, Laatsch has collected six goals and 20 assists for 26 points.

Prior to joining the Badgers, Laatsch spent a single season with the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers where through 51 appearances he finished third in team scoring among defensemen after posting two goals and 17 assists for 19 points. The 23-year-old native of Altoona, Wis., has also competed internationally, including a five-game showing with Team USA at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Laatsch is the second player to sign his entry-level contract with the Penguins in as many days. On Sunday, the club agreed to a three-year deal with Chase Pietila, a second-year defenseman with the NCAA’s Michigan State Huskies. Through 36 appearances with the Huskies this season, the 21-year-old Michigan-born blue-liner has registered seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points.

For the Penguins, on the season the club sits 25-31-10 and nine points back of the Ottawa Senators for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. Coming away with a 3-1 road win over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, the Penguins will try for their second-straight victory when the club returns to the ice Tuesday to take on the Vegas Golden Knights. The Penguins have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past two seasons.