2025–26 Team: Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Date of Birth: Feb. 21, 2008
Place of Birth: Osoyoos, BC, CAN
Height: 6-feet, Weight: 168 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Center
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Rankings
After recording 29 points last season, Medicine Hat Tigers forward Markus Ruck’s production saw an over 250% increase in 2025–26. With 108 points (21 goals, 87 assists) in 68 games, he led the Western Hockey League (WHL) in scoring. His twin brother and linemate, Liam, was the only other player to reach the century mark.
Related: THW’s 2026 NHL Draft Guide
Now, Ruck’s assist production is probably a little misleading. He holds the second-highest assist-per-game total among draft-eligible and under players this century, only beaten by Gavin McKenna. But the WHL isn’t as strong as it was in previous seasons, especially with top players now transferring to the NCAA.
But finishing atop scoring leaderboards has to mean something, right? To figure that out, let’s break down his game.
There are reasons to believe some of Ruck’s offensive play is translatable to the next level. His vision is excellent, as he’s constantly getting the puck to teammates in high-danger areas. He’s willing and able to slow the game down to create the looks he wants.
Ruck is also comfortable pretty much anywhere inside the offensive zone. This makes him very effective on the cycle, with legitimate playmaking upside despite a second-round grade from many outlets.
Playing off that last point, Ruck doesn’t shy away from the net front. He’s a threat to tip in pucks from there, though it’ll be interesting to see how that translates to higher levels with bigger and stronger defensemen.
Even though he’s a touch on the lighter side for a center, Ruck wins a lot of his puck battles. His positioning and stick skills are exceptional, giving him the edge over bulkier defensemen.
Defensively, Ruck played more off-puck in my viewings, but that’s one of the better areas of his game. He was highly successful in exiting the defensive zone with possession, making him a true two-way centerman.
One notable downside with Ruck is his lack of goalscoring. Across 132 career regular-season WHL games, he recorded just 29 goals (0.22 per game) and 193 shots (1.46 per game). Even if the playmaking and defense help him carve out a future as an NHL regular, the goal-scoring upside is a question mark.
Other THW Draft Profiles
Markus Ruck – NHL Draft Projection
Markus and his twin brother, Liam, are seen by some as a package deal. It is also speculated that, as Vancouver Canucks fans, the two may be headed to B.C. This all probably doesn’t change the former’s draft projection, though it does mean he should be decently coveted. Given his potential, expect him to be a second-round pick with an outside chance at going late in the first.
Quotables
“He excels in both defensive and offensive roles, consistently reading play around him and finding open teammates with his excellent vision. On the ice, he’s a good skater with average top-end speed, but could improve his overall quickness.” – Bill Maguire, Neutral Zone
“He’s a distributor more than a shooter and possesses fantastic vision and puck touch. His skating will have to continue to evolve before he arrives in the NHL, but his competitive approach combined with his skill are attractive in this area of the first round for me.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
“I loved Ruck as a playmaker. While Liam was the more offensively minded twin, Markus chased after opponents and often got the puck where it needed to be. Ruck is a smart, hard worker who won’t score in the NHL, but he can fill a lot of roles in a lineup.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
Strengths
- Vision and playmaking
- Engaging in and winning puck battles
- Defensive contributions; zone exits
- Net-front presence
- Chemistry with twin brother Liam
- Elite offensive production this season
Under Construction – Improvements to Make
- May lack goal-scoring upside, though his shot isn’t bad
- Skating is just okay
- Offensive translatability is an unknown (how high is his ceiling?)
NHL Potential
Scoring goals is vital for almost any forward to carve out more than a bottom-six role at the NHL level, but Ruck’s playmaking, two-way upside, and overall offensive instincts can make up for that if it’s an issue. He has the potential to be a dependable middle-six center with fairly high assist totals.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk – 2.5/5, Reward – 3.5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 6.5/10, Defense – 6/10
Awards/Achievements
- 2021–22 CSSHL U15 Most Sportsmanlike
- 2022–23 CSSHL U15 Most Assists (65)
- 2023–24 CSSHL U18 First All-Star Team (BC)
- 2024–25 U17 WHC Gold Medal
- 2024–25 WHL Champion
- 2025–26 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze Medal
- 2025–26 WHL Most Assists (87)
- 2025–26 WHL Most Points (108)
Interviews/Links
Markus Ruck Stats
Videos
Nice sequence from Markus Ruck (MH26) here. Already had 3 assists by this point in the game and sets up two chances herepic.twitter.com/R6vjlOqGm0
— Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) March 15, 2026
TWIN TELEPATHY NEVER GETS OLD!! WHAT A GOAL FROM THE RUCK TWINS!! 🚨🐅 pic.twitter.com/YyVsLwBCTx
— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) February 16, 2026
