Peyton Kettles Breaks the Internet: 5 Must-Know Facts About the Viral Sensation

Rising Canadian blueliner Peyton Kettles has officially joined the Pittsburgh Penguins organization after being taken 39th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 194-pound right-shot defenseman already turns heads in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Swift Current Broncos thanks to his reach, skating stride and composed puck play. SCOUTING REPORT: SIZE, REACH AND UNTAPPED OFFENSE Kettles’ frame and wingspan make him difficult to beat off the rush, while his gap control and first-pass accuracy have scouts projecting a shutdown NHL role with second-power-play upside. His WHL rookie campaign produced 25 points in 68 games, but evaluators note a booming one-timer and improving poise under pressure that hint at greater offensive totals once he adds muscle and confidence. WHAT THE PICK MEANS FOR THE PENGUINS General manager Kyle Dubas traded back into the second round to secure Kettles, signaling a clear mandate to fortify Pittsburgh’s shallow prospect pool on defense. With veteran blue-liners Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson both in their mid-30s, Kettles instantly becomes one of the organization’s most intriguing long-term options. His right-hand shot also fills a positional need in a system dominated by lefties. FROM WINNIPEG BACKYARDS TO WHL STAR Born in Winnipeg on September 1, 2007, Kettles credits countless winter hours on outdoor rinks for honing his skating and agility. After starring with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 squad, he was selected by Swift Current in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft and quickly carved out top-pair minutes against older competition. Coaches praise his coachability and off-ice professionalism, noting that the teenager routinely leads post-practice video breakdowns with younger teammates. DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP Kettles is expected to return to the Broncos this fall, log major minutes in every situation and push for a spot on Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Penguins will bring him to development camp in July, where skating coach Ty Henness will focus on adding lateral quickness and refining puck retrieval angles. If progress continues, a 2026–27 AHL debut with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is realistic. FANTASY & DYNASTY OUTLOOK In fantasy hockey dynasty formats, Kettles projects as a category-filling defenseman who can contribute blocks, hits and 30-plus points at his NHL peak. While his offensive ceiling may not match power-play quarterbacks, his multi-cat upside and high-floor physical game make him an attractive stash in deeper keeper leagues. KEY TAKEAWAY By nabbing Peyton Kettles early in Round 2, Pittsburgh adds a towering, mobile defender whose developmental trajectory aligns with the franchise’s eventual transition away from its aging core. Penguins fans should track his WHL growth closely—this Winnipeg native could patrol the PPG Paints Arena blue line sooner than many expect.