With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 56 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization.
Starting with Noel Acciari and going on through to Philip Tomasino (regrettably, there is no Z on the payroll), every player will be profiled in alphabetical order.
This series is scheduled to be published Mondays through Saturdays leading up until June 24, four days before the start of the NHL Draft. In the event of a transaction, that schedule will be altered as necessary.
(Note: All contract information courtesy of Puckpedia.)
Avery Hayes
Position: Right winger
Shoots: Right
Age: 22
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 175 pounds
2024-25 AHL regular season statistics: 60 games, 42 points (23 goals, 19 assists)
2024-25 AHL postseason statistics: Two games, one point (one goal, zero assists)
Contract: Signed to a two-year, entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $830,000 that begins with the 2025-26 season. Pending restricted free agent in 2027
(Hayes will not require waivers for an assignment to a minor league affiliate.)
Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing, March 13, 2025
This season: Getting an NHL contract isn’t an easy endeavor. And Avery Hayes certainly has verified that postulate.
Despite putting up healthy offensive figures at the junior level in the Ontario Hockey League — including 34 points in 16 games during the 2022 playoffs with the Hamilton Bulldogs — Hayes was never drafted.
That led to him signing a two-year American Hockey League contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2023.
And his first taste of professional hockey was somewhat unappetizing as a broken sternum limited him to only 29 AHL games and nine points (six goals, three assists) in 2023-24 while largely inhabiting a bottom-six role.
Fully healthy entering the 2024-25 season, Hayes graduated to a steady role on the top two lines and led Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in goals.
After Hayes displayed a blend of skill, speed and grit, the Penguins signed him to an entry-level contract in mid-March.
Perhaps the keynote game of Hayes’ season was a 4-3 overtime home win against the Hartford Wolf Pack on March 26 in which the Penguins secured a playoff berth.
Hayes scored two goals in that contest, including on a breakaway in overtime.
MR CLUTCH AVERY HAYES pic.twitter.com/49prlo6Dhk
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 27, 2025
Earlier in the game, Hayes — whose eligibility for certain rides at Kennywood might be reasonably doubted — fought Hartford forward Dylan Roobroeck (6-foot-7, 205 pounds).
In the postseason, Hayes scored a goal as the Penguins were eliminated by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 2-0, in a best-of-three opening round series.
The future: The Pittsburgh Penguins are understandably turning to the future after three consecutive seasons with a playoff appearance.
But it might be a tad bit premature to assume Hayes will be someone who gets an immediate look for a spot on the NHL roster this September in training camp. He has a single strong professional season on his resume and certainly has plenty of room to develop. Beyond that, the Penguins have some more talented candidates in their prospect pool among wingers.
That said, he has all the attributes to be a steady third-line winger in the NHL. He offers some scoring touch, a nice amount of speed and isn’t afraid to play a hard game despite limited size. Additionally, the way he earned his chance in the NHL illustrates a determined work ethic.
He has earned a contract. Now, it’s time to time to earn a job.