Undrafted forward Avery Hayes earns his NHL shot with the Penguins after a breakout AHL season, signing a two-year contract starting in 2025-26.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have added another promising young player to their pipeline, signing forward Avery Hayes to a two-year entry-level contract. The deal kicks in for the 2025-26 season, securing his spot in the organization through 2026-27.
Though Hayes wasn’t drafted, he’s no stranger to the Penguins system. The 22-year-old forward has spent the last two seasons playing for their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. His first year in the pros was an adjustment, producing just nine points in 29 games and even spending a short stint in the ECHL. However, this season has been a different story.
Hayes has emerged as a key contributor for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, tallying 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 44 games while leading all forwards on the team with a +17 rating. Among the top 100 under-23 players in the AHL, he was the only one not affiliated with an NHL team—until now.
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The Michigan native has championship experience as well, having won back-to-back Ontario Hockey League (OHL) titles in 2022 and 2023 with two different teams, the Hamilton Bulldogs and Peterborough Petes. His strong play has now earned him a two-year commitment from Pittsburgh, making him eligible for an NHL call-up starting next season.
With this signing, the Penguins now have 33 players under contract for the 2025-26 season, and Hayes will be a restricted free agent when his deal expires in 2027. He joins Chase Pietila and Daniel Laatsch as the latest prospects to sign entry-level contracts with Pittsburgh in the past four days.
This is a well-earned opportunity for Hayes, who has proven his potential at the AHL level. Now, he’ll look to take the next step toward securing a spot in the NHL.
Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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