The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Avery Hayes from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Thursday, setting up a possible NHL debut for the former undrafted winger.
Hayes, 23, has scored 13 goals with 10 assists in 31 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. He was one of the AHL club’s top scorers last season, managing 23 goals with 19 assists in 60 games.
His NHL recall, the first of his career, comes on the heels of multiple personnel updates given to reporters in Buffalo by coach Dan Muse ahead of the Penguins’ contest against the Sabres on Thursday evening.
Forward Rickard Rakell is unavailable, having departed the morning skate with what was labeled a lower-body injury, while forward Blake Lizotte is also absent, as he and his wife are expecting their first child.
Lizotte’s typical winger Noel Acciari (illness) is a game-time decision.
While he attends to his family, Lizotte is believed to have been designated as non-roster in order to make room on the active roster for fellow forward Kevin Hayes.
Last March, Avery Hayes signed a two-year entry-level contract through 2026-27 worth $830,000 annually.
Prior to joining the Penguins, he played parts of four campaigns in the Ontario Hockey League with the Brantford Bulldogs and Peterborough Petes.
