Former Penguins Forward Leaves Organization and Signs With New Team Overseas

Former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Mathias Laferriere has joined HK Spisska Nova Ves of the Slovak Extraliga.

The Slovakian club made the announcement on social media on Saturday, but the details of the contract were not released, per Seth Rorabaugh.

Mathias Laferriere was added by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Feb. 12 after the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues made a trade. The 25-year-old forward had eight points, three goals, and five assists in 22 games with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate.

Though showing glimpses of offensive potential, he was never summoned back to the NHL roster while with the organization.

A Montrealer, Laferriere suited up last season on a one-year, two-way contract that carried a $775,000 cap hit. He had spent a number of seasons in the Blues' system after being chosen 169th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft.

His exit leaves four players who finished last season under contract with the Penguins organization, unsigned for 2025-26, either in the NHL, AHL, or in Europe.

That list consists of forwards Emil Bemstrom and Matt Nieto, along with defensemen Matt Grzelcyk and Colton Poolman.

Laferriere is now the newest player to seek an opportunity abroad, joining an increasing number of North American professionals seeking to prolong their careers in European leagues.

We wish Laferriere a great amount of success as he embarks on his European journey, and we hope to see him play in the NHL one day in the future.