With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason after a brief return to the postseason, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 53 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization.

Starting with veteran Noel Acciari and going on through to prospect Bill Zonnon, every player will be profiled in alphabetical order.

This series is scheduled to be published every day until June 24, two days before the start of the NHL Draft. In the event of a transaction, that schedule will be altered as necessary.

(Note: All contract information courtesy of Puckpedia.)

Tanner Howe

Position: Left winger

Shoots: Left

Age: 20

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 183 pounds

2025-26 AHL regular season statistics: 27 games, 16 points (eight goals, eight assists)

2025-26 AHL postseason statistics: Eight games, three points (one goal, two assists)

Contract: Signed to a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $845,833. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2029

(This contract can “slide” – i.e., begin – to the 2026-27 season. Howe does not require waivers for an assignment to a minor league affiliate.)

Acquired: Second-round draft pick (No. 46 overall), June 29, 2024

This season: A right knee injury that required surgery in April of 2025 impacted Howe’s 2025-26 campaign considerably, as he was sidelined for the first four months of the season while recovering

Largely limited to rehabilitating the injury in Cranberry over that span, Howe was cleared to resume playing on Feb. 1 and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

One day later, he made his professional debut. Opening the contest on the left wing of the second line, he recorded an assist in a 6-2 road win against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

On Feb. 4, Howe scored his first professional goal during a 4-1 home victory against the Hershey Bears.

For the remainder of the regular season, Howe moved around the lineup, playing on both wings while being deployed on the other three lines.

The high-water mark of his first professional campaign came during a 7-2 road win against the Springfield Thunderbirds on Feb. 18 when he scored a pair of goals.

Suspended for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s first game of the postseason as a result of a cross-checking infraction in the regular season finale, Howe has been in the lineup for the past eight games, all on the right wing. And in the previous five games, he has been stationed on the top line. His lone goal this postseason came in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division final series, a 2-0 home win against the Thunderbirds on May 12.

The future: In the immediate, Howe and the Penguins have advanced to the Eastern Conference final against either the Cleveland Monsters or Toronto Marlies.

Looking long-term, Howe still has a way to go in his development as a potential NHLer. After missing more than half the season, Howe, who turns 21 on Nov. 28, is still playing catch-up to a certain degree as he learns the professional game.

But he is definitely steered in the right direction. With a blend of tenacity, scoring touch and toughness, Howe has the tools to be a viable middle-six winger in the NHL.

Howe showed all those attributes in what has been a successful recovery.

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