Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

The Week of Avery Hayes

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Chris Lavallee | Last updated Feb 8, 2026 1:08 PM ET

The past few days have been surreal for Penguins forward Avery Hayes. He got the call to make his NHL debut for Pittsburgh on Thursday in their final game before the Olympic break. Hayes would score a goal on his first career shot. He went on to score two goals in the Penguins’ 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. He finished with six shots on goal and played in 14 shifts with 10:09 time on ice. Hayes returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he was on a three-game goal streak already. In his first game back last night he had a hat trick for the Penguins in their 4-3 overtime win over the Hershey Bears. Hayes scored the overtime winner to complete the hat trick. He had nine shots on goal, two power play goals, a shorthanded goal, and a game-winner last night. So in the past week from Saturday January 31st to last night. Hayes played in five games one of which was his NHL debut, scoring eight goals with four power play goals, a shorthanded goal, and two game-winning goals. Not a bad week for a 23-year-old undrafted forward.

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Avery Hayes

Hayes joined the Penguins organization in 2023-24. He played one game in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers, he didn’t register a point and was a minus-one. He also appeared in 29 games in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he had nine points on six goals and three assists; he was a minus-one. Last season he spent the whole season in the AHL appearing in 60 games recording 42 points on 23 goals and 19 assists; he was a +12. This season in 32 games in the AHL he has 26 points on 16 goals and ten assists; he’s a plus-two.

https://feeds.simplecast.com/iWWhO4_4

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: