Penguins reunite Ruck twins with back-to-back 2026 draft picks

With the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins chose Liam Ruck before adding twin brother Markus at 39th overall.

Family bond drives draft decisions

The Penguins used consecutive selections to reunite identical twins separated by only eight minutes at birth. Liam shoots right-handed while Markus shoots left, creating mirror profiles that allow line chemistry without duplication.

Markus recorded 108 points including a league-leading 87 assists in the 2025-26 WHL season with Medicine Hat. Liam posted 104 points with 45 goals over the same campaign, finishing second in league scoring.

Both brothers improved dramatically after an early-season mental reset with coach Aaron Volpatti. They combined for 78 points each across the final 41 games at a 1.9 points-per-game pace.

The twins had already shouldered expanded roles after proving value on the penalty kill. Their combined output of 212 points in the final WHL season outpaced most draft-eligible peers.

Off-ice competition in pickleball and video games translated directly to on-ice push, as Liam described the daily accountability of facing an identical skill set.

Complementary styles enhance Penguins prospect pool

Central Scouting ranked Liam 20th and Markus 23rd among North American skaters in final 2026 rankings after earlier placements at 26th and 31st. Most external lists slotted Liam ahead due to his goal-scoring edge.

The brothers averaged over one point per game through November before their December surge. Markus reached 30 points in 27 games while Liam posted nine goals in the same span.

Medicine Hat coach Willie Desjardins initially omitted them from penalty-kill plans, prompting video study that earned regular shorthanded minutes by playoff time.

Their shared upbringing in the WHL eliminated typical sibling friction and fostered honest self-assessment during drills. Both described the arrangement as the optimal daily motivator.

Pittsburgh’s selections fulfilled the twins’ stated preference to remain together, a priority their mother had voiced publicly ahead of the draft.

Early returns point to accelerated timeline

The twins’ combined 1.9 points-per-game finish in 41 games signals readiness for pro hockey sooner than typical second-round selections. Liam’s 45 goals and Markus’s 87 assists represent the highest individual totals among draft-eligible Medicine Hat players.

Their 4-3 shootout win for Team Black over Liam’s Team White at the 2024 U-17 camp remains the only documented on-ice meeting between the brothers.

Penguins management cited the twins’ ability to play all situations as a deciding factor over higher-ranked single prospects available at 22nd overall.

The eight-minute age gap has never created hierarchy; Markus and Liam continue to split household bragging rights evenly across sports and games.

Draft analysts noted the rarity of selecting true twins with complementary handedness and skill sets within 17 picks of each other.