With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason after a brief return to the postseason, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 53 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization.
Starting with veteran Noel Acciari and going on through to prospect Bill Zonnon, every player will be profiled in alphabetical order.
This series is scheduled to be published every day until June 24, two 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.)
Gabriel D’Aigle
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Age: 19
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 211 pounds
2025-26 ECHL regular season statistics: Three games, 1-2-0 record, 2.63 goals against average, .925 save percentage, zero shutouts
2025-26 ECHL postseason statistics: One game, 0-0 record, 2.06 goals against average, .917 save percentage, zero shutouts
2025-26 QMJHL regular season statistics: 39 games, 3.58 goals against average, .908 save percentage, zero shutouts
2025-26 QMJHL postseason statistics: Four games, 0-4 record, 4.74 goals against average, .863 save percentage, zero shutouts
Contract: Entering the first year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $995,000. Pending restricted free agent in 2029
(D’Aigle does not require waivers for an assignment to a minor league affiliate.)
Acquired: Third-round draft pick (No. 84 overall), June 28, 2025
This season: When the Penguins utilized a fairly high draft pick on Gabriel D’Aigle in last year’s draft, they knew they were adding a goaltender who was used to heavy lifting.
During the 2024-25 campaign, D’Aigle labored for a poor Victoriaville Tigres squad that was the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s worst team that season. D’Aigle was busy most nights as he faced a league-high 1,713 shots.
During the 2025-26 campaign, D’Aigle wasn’t under duress quite as often as the 1,451 shots he saw were merely the fourth-most in the QMJHL.
Still, D’Aigle carried most of the freight for an underwhelming Victoriaville squad and helped it reach the postseason.
Perhaps D’Aigle’s finest performance of the season came on Feb. 22 in a 5-4 overtime home win against the Val-d’Or Foreurs in which he had to make 49 saves to earn the victory.
D'Aigle sort la gobeuse ????#GoTigresGopic.twitter.com/rmgUodb3j8
— Tigres de Victoriaville (@TigresVicto) February 22, 2026
The Tigres got into the playoffs with a 23-36-5-0 record as the seventh seed in the Western Conference, earning a first-round matchup with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. D’Aigle and company were overwhelmed by the Armada’s attack and swept in four games.
Before the QMJHL playoffs started, however, D’Aigle signed his entry-level contract with the Penguins on March 20. But once his junior season was completed, he signed an amateur tryout contract (ATO) with the Wheeling Nailers on April 7.
Largely serving as the Nailers’ backup to starter Taylor Gauthier in the final stretch of the regular season, D’Aigle won one of his three starts with Wheeling.
Another BIG save from the guy in net.. Gabriel D'Aigle! pic.twitter.com/vcZoDt099q
— xy-Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) April 12, 2026
In the Kelly Cup playoffs, D’Aigle replaced Gauthier midway through a 6-3 road loss to the Maine Mariners in Game 3 of a North Division final on Monday, making 11 saves on 12 shots.
The future: From an immediate standpoint, the Nailers are tied in their best-of-seven series with the Mariners, 2-2, and D’Aigle will presumably serve as Gauthier’s backup for the remainder of Wheeling’s postseason.
Looking into next season, D’Aigle is eligible to return to Victoriaville as an “over-ager” but he is expected to remain with Wheeling to begin his pro career in earnest.
There’s a lot to be intrigued by D’Aigle, who has a springy, athletic game while also being on the larger side. Additionally, he’s not afraid to play the puck, as evidenced by the eight assists he recorded in 2024-25.
(He was limited to a single assist this season.)
D’Aigle, who turns 20 on Nov. 21, has a long way to go before he can be considered a threat to reach the NHL. But his addition only adds to the organization’s already impressive goaltending depth.