Addison, 18, ranked second in scoring on the Hurricanes this past season with 65 points (11G-54A) in 68 games, finishing behind only teammate and Pens' prospect Jordy Bellerive, who had 92 points. Addison set career highs across the board last season.
The 5-foot-11, 178-pound native of Brandon, Manitoba was strong for the Hurricanes in the playoffs, tying for fourth on the team and first among team defensemen with 19 points (7G-12A) in 16 postseason contests.
The defenseman took home a gold medal with Team Canada in the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, tying for second on the team with six points (2G-4A) in five games. Addison also won silver in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with Canada in 2016.
Addison finished second in WHL rookie defensemen scoring with 33 points (9G-24A) in the 2016-17 regular season.
Pittsburgh also chose a defenseman with their top pick last year with the selection of Zachary Lauzon, taken in the second round (51st overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. Previously, the Penguins hadn't chosen a defenseman with their top pick since 2012 when both Derrick Pouliot (8thoverall) and Olli Maatta (22nd overall) were picked in the first round.
