Harrison Brunicke
Defense · PIT · NHL

Harrison Brunicke

Age
20
Height
6'3"
Weight
204 lb
Shoots
R
Drafted
2024, round 2, 44th overall
Born
ZAF
2026-27
AHL · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Games
4
Goals
0
Assists
1
Points
1
Prospect score · 2026-27
High end

56th of 1,160 prospects in the NHLnew

3rd in the PIT system · 1st among its defensemen

+0.4WAR a season if he sticks
Outlook
NHL odds82%Becomes a full-time NHL player — 200 games by 26
Impact odds29%Better than the typical NHL regular among defensemen
Arrival2027-28The season his comps who made it typically became regulars
WAR a season if he sticks−0.0+0.4+1.1Low, middle and high outcomes among his comparables who became regulars

Of the 10 players most like him at the same point in their development, 9 became full-time NHL players.

Development

His scoring, converted to an NHL equivalent, against every player his age and position that season. Zero is the average player his age; the band is where his comparables were at each age.

-2-10+1+216171819Age2022-23, age 16, 59 GP: -0.86 vs. his age group (0.02 NHL-equivalent points per game)2023-24, age 17, 49 GP: +0.04 vs. his age group (0.08 NHL-equivalent points per game)2024-25, age 18, 51 GP: +0.34 vs. his age group (0.12 NHL-equivalent points per game)2025-26, age 19, 35 GP: +1.12 vs. his age group (0.22 NHL-equivalent points per game)
HimMiddle half of his comps at that ageAverage player his age
Comparables

Past prospects at the same position and the same stage after their draft, matched on draft slot, age, size and league-adjusted production. What they became is already known. The outcome is judged at 26: 200 NHL games by then makes a regular.

#PlayerMatchNHL GP by 26Career NHL GPOutcomeWAR a season
1Jake McCabe2012 · #44 · at 2052%353731Regular+0.49
2Urho Vaakanainen2017 · #18 · at 2034%221221Regular+0.14
3Jacob Larsson2015 · #27 · at 2033%172172Did not stick—
4Jon Merrill2010 · #38 · at 2031%307682Regular+0.13
5Luca Sbisa2008 · #19 · at 2030%465549Regular−0.03
6Nathan Beaulieu2011 · #17 · at 2030%370471Regular+0.05
7Thomas Chabot2015 · #18 · at 2029%432577Regular+1.01
8Brian Dumoulin2009 · #51 · at 2029%243793Regular+0.88
9Rasmus Andersson2015 · #53 · at 2029%455626Regular+1.16
10Patrick Wiercioch2008 · #42 · at 2029%268268Regular+0.38
Season by season
SeasonGPGAPtsPIM
2026-27AHL · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins40114
2025-26WHL · Kamloops Blazers242222420
2025-26NHL · Pittsburgh Penguins91016
2025-26International-Jr · Canada U2020220
2025-26AHL · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins111782
2024-25WHL · Kamloops Blazers415253047
2024-25International · Team Canada20000
2024-25AHL · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins1002218
2023-24WJC-18 · Canada U1871342
2023-24WHL · Kamloops Blazers4910112147
2022-23WHL · Kamloops Blazers5944826
2022-23Memorial Cup · Kamloops Blazers41010
2021-22WHL Cup · Team Alberta50224
2021-22WHL · Kamloops Blazers20000
2021-22Macs Tournament · Calgary Royals U18 AAA42026
2021-22AJHL · Brooks Bandits10000
2021-22AEHL U18 · Calgary Royals U18 AAA296111720
2020-21AEHL U15 · Calgary Royals U15 AAA50444
2019-20HCBAA · CRAA White U15 AA306182422
2019-20AMBHL · Calgary Royals U15 AAA10000

The prospect score is a percentile of his expected outcome among every prospect in the league: the chance he becomes a regular, times how good his comparables who did became against others at their position. A player who never sticks counts as zero, which is why a long shot with a high ceiling can rank below a safe bet. All Sabres prospects · How the rankings work