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Avery Hayes turns Penguins pipeline hype into real pressure
Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Avery Hayes just scored twice in his NHL debut, and the Pittsburgh Penguins pipeline suddenly feels a lot less theoretical.
The undrafted winger popped two first period goals in Buffalo on Thursday, February 5, helping Pittsburgh beat the Sabres 5-2.
That alone would be a season highlight for most prospects.
Instead, he went right back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and kept cooking.
By Monday, February 9, Hayes owned the Howie’s Hockey Tape AHL Player of the Week trophy too.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s release says Hayes scored four goals in two AHL games, plus those two NHL goals in the middle of the chaos.
Avery Hayes forces Pittsburgh Penguins roster questions
As a fan, it’s hard not to feel that mix of hope and dread, because we have seen hot call-ups get buried fast in this organization.
This season is the point now, not “one day.”
Hayes has 16-10-26 in 32 AHL games in 2025-26, and that is top-six offense.
He also has 2-0-2 in one NHL game, which is a hilarious sentence to type.
The week’s capstone was Saturday, February 7 at Hershey, when he returned and scored his first pro hat trick, ending it with the overtime winner in a 4-3 win.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton also notes he has goals in four straight AHL games and a career-best seven-game point streak.
The tactic that keeps showing up is pace, he attacks seams, gets inside sticks, and finishes quick from the slot.
Contract-wise, he signed a two-year entry-level deal last March that runs through 2026-27, so this is not a tryout anymore.
If the Penguins need a spark after the Olympic break, Hayes has already made the case with actual goals, not “good shifts.”
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