Penguins End Longest ECHL Affiliation, Partner with Florida Everblades

The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially concluded their long-standing affiliation with the Wheeling Nailers, marking the end of the NHL’s longest ECHL partnership. On Thursday, the team announced the transition to the Florida Everblades as their new ECHL affiliate, a move that follows the recent sale of the franchise to the Hoffmann Family of Companies.

This change comes after the Penguins expressed their intentions to realign their ECHL ties with the Everblades, a franchise already under the Hoffmann family’s umbrella. As a result of this switch, the Nailers are now without an NHL parent club, while the Everblades were previously unaffiliated.

Wheeling had been the Penguins’ affiliate since 1996, contributing to the development of numerous NHL players and top prospects, including goaltender Sergei Murashov, defenseman Finn Harding, and forwards Avery Hayes and Atley Calvert. The Penguins have consistently viewed their ECHL affiliation as a developmental opportunity, a perspective that has intensified under the current leadership of president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas.

Despite Wheeling’s close proximity to Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the Hoffmann family made it clear from the outset that their vision involved a shift to Florida. “100 percent,” David Hoffman stated during the family’s introductory press conference on June 25, affirming their commitment to the Everblades. “I think they would run me out of Naples if they’re not. We already have people wearing Penguins’ jerseys at our games, so I think there’s a high expectation level that’s going to happen. We want to do that.”

The Everblades have established themselves as a powerhouse in the ECHL, winning four of the past five Kelly Cup championships, including the 2026 title against the Kansas City Mavericks. With five total championships, they hold the record for the most Kelly Cup victories in league history.

Moving forward, any player within the Penguins’ organization on NHL or AHL contracts will now have the opportunity to be assigned to the Everblades, provided they meet contract eligibility. Players under ECHL agreements will remain with their current club, meaning any Penguins’ prospects signed to ECHL contracts will continue their development in Wheeling.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.