Penguins sign Tomas Galvas to entry-level contract

Galvas, 20, was selected by the Penguins with the 54th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He was Pittsburgh’s third player taken in the draft, as twin forwards Liam and Markus Ruck were their first two selections.

The Czech national played last season with HC Bili Tygri Liberec of the Czech Extraliga, the top professional hockey league in Czechia. In 32 games for HC Bili Tygri Liberec, he impressed with eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points. He then had an assist in seven playoff games. Galvas also represented Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he showed out with three goals and six assists for nine points in seven games as Czechia captured silver.

Galvas was eligible to be selected in 2024 and 2025, but went undrafted. He re-entered the 2026 draft, and was able to be a second-round pick thanks in large part to his strong 2025-26 season. Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis listed Galvas as the sixth best re-entry prospect in the 2026 draft. Ellis noted that “Galvas is as good a skater as you’ll find in this class, using his quick footwork to pivot on a dime. He also makes quick, accurate backhand passes that seem to throw off opponents quite frequently.”

Galvas was ranked as the 82nd best available player in Ellis’ final pre-draft prospect ranking.

At 5’10” and 168 pounds, Galvas’ relatively diminutive frame is likely why he was bypassed in the 2024 and 2025 drafts. It’s also likely why he fell to the latter portion of the second round in 2026 despite his sterling production at the club at international levels.