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Penguins organization adds former Panthers free agent forward on new deal
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Ryan McAllister lands in the Pittsburgh Penguins pipeline on an AHL deal, and Wilkes-Barre just grabbed a real “prove it” scorer.
The report out of X says the Penguins signed forward Ryan McAllister for the 2025-26 season, with him joining the AHL Penguins.
That matters, because Pittsburgh’s big club always ends up needing fresh legs when the schedule turns nasty.
This is how you protect your top-six without panicking at the trade deadline.
For Wilkes-Barre, it’s also a message, you have to earn ice every night, even in the minors.
McAllister is 24, shoots left, and he’s undrafted, which usually means the path is harder and the chip is bigger.
His calling card is offense that doesn’t need perfect conditions.
In college, he exploded at Western Michigan with 13-36-49 in 39 games, the kind of playmaking that forces coaches to trust you.
If he brings even part of that to the AHL, the Penguins suddenly have another man-advantage option to test.
Ryan McAllister puts pressure on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Penguins fans are tired of placeholder AHL signings, so this one feels like an actual swing.
The best version of this is simple, McAllister wins a scoring role, drives a line, and becomes the first call when injuries hit Pittsburgh.
The realistic version is still useful, depth scoring, a steady middle-six AHL center, and competition that raises the room.
Either way, it’s low-risk for the organization and high urgency for the player.
Now the fun part is watching where he fits, who he clicks with, and whether he can keep pace when games tighten up.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 5|84 ANSWERS Penguins organization adds former Panthers free agent forward on new deal Will Ryan McAllister become an NHL call-up option for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season? | ||
| Yes | 50 | 59.5 % |
| No | 34 | 40.5 % |
| List of polls | ||