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.)

Avery Hayes

Position: Right winger

Shoots: Right

Age: 23

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 180 pounds

2025-26 NHL regular season statistics: 16 games, five points (five goals, zero assists, 11:01 of ice time)

2025-26 AHL regular season statistics: 42 games, 39 points (24 goals, 15 assists)

2025-26 AHL postseason statistics: Eight games, four points (three goals, one assist)

Contract: In the first year of a two-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $830,000. Pending restricted free agent in 2027

(Hayes does not require waivers for an assignment to a minor league affiliate.)

Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing, March 13, 2025

This season: Entering 2025-26, there was plenty of focus on the Penguins’ prospects, such as forward Ville Koivunen, defenseman Harrison Brunicke and goaltender Sergei Murashov. After all, the Penguins were expected to be turning to younger players and those were the leading names in that pursuit.

A bit further down the trough was Avery Hayes, an undrafted sparkplug of a forward who earned an NHL contract after a strong 2024-25 campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while on an American Hockey League contract.

During the preseason, Hayes stood out with his speed and tenacity. And he even made the most out of a prominent assignment on the team’s top line during a 4-1 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the preseason. Accepting a pass in front of the home bench, Hayes left a deft backhand pass fro linemate Sidney Crosby, who raced into the offensive zone and buried a wrister for the Penguins’ first goal of the contest.

But even with three points (one goal, two assists) in four preseason contests, Hayes was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Oct. 4 and remained with that club for the next four months.

Primarily manning the right wing on any of the team’s top three lines, Hayes generated six points (three goals, three assists) in his first nine games of the season before an undisclosed injury he suffered on Nov. 1 sidelined him for six games.

Back in the lineup by Nov. 21, Hayes was largely deployed as the top line’s right winger for 14 games before suffering another unspecified ailment on Dec. 21. Following a nine-game absence, he was back on the ice by Jan. 19.

After piecing together a three-game goal-scoring streak between Jan. 31 and Feb. 4, Hayes was promoted to the NHL roster for the first time in his career Feb. 5 when the Pittsburgh Penguins’ forward ranks were depleted by various absences.

After making a mad dash from Northeast Pennsylvania to Western New York throughout that same day, Hayes made his NHL debut in smashing fashion by scoring two goals during a 5-2 road win against the Buffalo Sabres.

The next day, the Penguins entered the NHL’s Olympic break and Hayes was returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton without missing a step. On Feb. 7, Hayes completed a hat trick with a goal in overtime during a 4-3 road win against the Hershey Bears.

After another hat trick on Feb. 18 during a 7-2 road win against the Springfield Thunderbirds, Hayes was recalled to the NHL club five days later and largely bounced between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a series of transactions for the remainder of the regular season.

Hayes’ offensive contributions were largely limited at the NHL level as he was relegated to a bottom-six role, but he showed what he could offer in that capacity during a 4-3 home shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. After Hayes flattened Flyers defenseman Cam York with a hit, he fought Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale, drawing an additional penalty in the process that led to a power-play opportunity for the Penguins.

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After scoring two goals in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ regular season finale, a 7-5 road loss to the St. Louis Blues on April 14, Hayes was returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the next day.

In the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs, Hayes has been entrenched on the right wing of either of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top two lines and is tied for the team’s postseason lead in goals (three).

The future: With the exception of rookie center Ben Kindel, few of the Penguins’ prospects appeared to do more to earn a job on the NHL roster going into next season than Hayes.

And with the Penguins presumably parting ways with a few of their bottom-six forwards this upcoming offseason, a role on the bottom-two lines seems to be more than available for Hayes to claim next season.

As an NHLer, he probably won’t be the steady 20-goal threat that he has become in the AHL. But he has a competent level of scoring ability to go with a tenacious motor and plenty of toughness.

Hayes isn’t guaranteed a roster spot next season. But he proved he belongs.