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Avery Hayes scored twice in his debut, but what came before makes it even wilder
Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Avery Hayes went undrafted, then scored twice in his NHL debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins with his family watching it happen.
He didn’t just “make it.” He made it loud.
Thursday in Buffalo, Hayes popped two first-period goals in a 5-2 win.
That’s the kind of night that flips a career.
Because the undrafted part matters more than ever.
In 2023, 32 teams passed, and Hayes had to chase the hard way.
No guarantees, no “development plan,” no safety net.
He signed an AHL deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, then kept stacking proof.
This season, he earned the call with 13-10-23 in 31 AHL games.
The recall came fast, and the debut came faster.
He even drove four hours into Buffalo and basically jumped right into the lineup.
Avery Hayes makes Pittsburgh Penguins belief look smart
Honestly, Penguins fans have begged for stories like this, a hungry kid forcing the door open.
Hayes tied it with his first, then gave them the lead with his second.
His parents and brother were in the stands wiping away tears after that first one.
That’s the payoff for every “sorry, you weren’t selected” moment.
Pittsburgh heads into the Olympic break at 29-15-12, and the bottom-six battle just got real.
Now the question is simple: is this a cameo, or the start of something permanent?
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Former Penguin and first-rounder gets traded to the Devils
Former Penguin and first-rounder gets traded to the Devils
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 6|127 ANSWERS Avery Hayes scored twice in his debut, but what came before makes it even wilder Should Avery Hayes stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins after the Olympic break? | ||
| Yes | 109 | 85.8 % |
| No | 18 | 14.2 % |
| List of polls | ||