The Penguins closed out a very active 2025 NHL draft with one pick in each of the sixth and seventh rounds to make up the 12th and 13th players that they selected over the weekend.
The choices ended up being a pair of forwards, Pittsburgh drafted Carter Sanderson out of the USHL at 169th overall and then grabbed Kale Dach out of the BCHL with their final pick at 201.
Sanderson made history as the first person from South Dakota to be drafted in the NHL. He’ll go across state lines to play at the University of North Dakota for the 2026-27 season.
F Carter Sanderson, 6th round (169th overall):
“Our area scout Brandon Dennis was super passionate about him. Super, super competitive. Type of kid that may not show up on the stat sheet just yet. Extremely young, too, for the draft class. First year in the USHL, wins the…
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 28, 2025
Dach is also a NCAA commit at nearby Penn State for 2026-27. Dach was very productive in the BCHL, which gives him a fairly nice profile for a seventh round pick. Pittsburgh will sure to be keeping a close eye on Dach next season he’s set to join first round pick Ben Kindel with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL before Dach makes it over to Happy Valley in 2026.
Pittsburgh selected Kale Dach 201st overall. I ranked him 61st.
The BCHL is not a very good hcokey league, but even still, scoring over 1.5 points per game is decent. For a player drafted in the 7th round, you could do a whole lot worse. https://t.co/asD26S0oC6 pic.twitter.com/i8HtCU2eWD
— Patrick Bacon (@TopDownHockey) June 28, 2025
The Pittsburgh Penguins have selected Kale Dach at 201st overall. I ranked him #28.
Out of the BCHL guys who produced crazy this year, Dach was the one that scouts liked the most. I really like this pick for the Pens.#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/YbF2eUn2pf
— Nick (@nickiacoban) June 28, 2025
F Kale Dach, 7th round (201st overall):
“He played in Sherwood Park, BCHL. He’s actually going to join Calgary, we believe, next year. Play with Ben (Kindel), and then go to Penn State. Area scouts had a lot of time for him where he was. I think he had 87 points this past year.…
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 28, 2025
Despite hailing from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta — just like Kirby Dach and Colton Dach, they are of no relation to Kale Dach, believe it or not. But Kale hopes to join them in the NHL one day just the same.