Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Avery Hayes had an impressive week. He made his NHL debut on Thursday, scoring twice in the Penguins’ 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. His first goal came early in the game when he outmaneuvered two Sabres defenders to get to the puck, taking a shot that beat goalie Alex Ryan. His second goal followed shortly after, thanks to a clever pass from Anthony Mantha in the late first period, giving the Penguins a 2-1 lead at intermission. Hayes was called up earlier that day due to Noel Acciari’s illness.
Remarkably, Hayes is only the 12th undrafted player in NHL history to score multiple goals in his debut game. He also joins a select few, being the seventh player to do so early in his NHL career. The next day, he was sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and returned to game action on Saturday, delivering a standout performance with a hat trick in a 4-3 overtime win over the Hershey Bears. He opened the scoring on a power play assisted by Rutger McGroarty, then quickly added another goal while shorthanded. In overtime, Hayes scored the game-winner on a power play despite his stick breaking during the shot.
It seems inevitable that Hayes will soon become a regular in the NHL. The WBS team, currently boasting a 32-12-2 record and a five-game winning streak before the AHL All-Star break, continues to excel.
Stay updated with the latest from the Pittsburgh Penguins by bookmarking THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab for news, roster updates, and player insights.
Fan Take: Hayes’ breakout performances highlight the exciting potential of young, undrafted players making their mark at the highest level. This kind of emergence fuels hope among fans that new talent can reshape the future of the sport and add fresh energy to the league.
