When Tory Pitner steps on the ice, the game settles down.

Suffocating rush defence, constant activation, and exceptional attention to detail earned Pitner a full-time role in the USHL halfway through his draft-minus-one season, and kept him in the lineup for the Youngstown Phantoms championship run last year. 

This season, NHL Central Scouting's No. 77-ranked North American skater started the year as Team USA's captain at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and is currently the leading point-per-minute scorer among 2006-born defencemen in the USHL.  

Just as impressive as the on-ice accomplishments is Pitner's perspective on the game. He breaks down the sport unlike any other player, spotting the tiniest details, figuring out why they matter, and then integrating them into his game — and having a ton of fun while doing it. 

So, let's get to know Pitner, the 2024 NHL Draft's most interesting man.