Penguins End 29-Year ECHL Affiliation With Wheeling Nailers

The sale of the Penguins to Hoffmann Family Companies prompted the split, leaving the Hoffmann‑owned Florida Everblades as a likely but unconfirmed replacement

Overview

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Thursday that they have ended their roughly 29-year ECHL affiliation with the Wheeling Nailers.
General manager Kyle Dubas said the move was driven by “unique circumstances” after the team changed ownership and thanked the Nailers, their staff and the Wheeling community for their role in player development.
New owner David Hoffmann has expressed a desire for his Hoffmann Family Companies to pair the Penguins with the Florida Everblades, but the Penguins have not formally named a successor affiliate.
The change will force the Penguins to reconfigure where they assign and develop prospects in the short term and raises economic and community concerns for Wheeling, which has hosted the pipeline for nearly three decades.
The Hoffmanns bought the Everblades in 2019 and the club has been successful in the ECHL, most recently winning the 2026 Kelly Cup, which helps explain why the Everblades are seen as a natural candidate for affiliation.