The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought an end to a 29‑year affiliation with the Wheeling Nailers, a relationship that traced the AHL team’s early development and provided a steady pipeline of talent for the NHL club.
The change follows the recent sale of the franchise to the Hoffmann Family of Companies, who have signaled a strategic shift toward concentrating resources on their existing sports holdings in Florida.
Championship pedigree fuels the partnership
The Florida Everblades, a franchise renowned for capturing five Kelly Cup championships — including four of the past five — have been named the Penguins’ new ECHL affiliate. Their recent success offers the Penguins a proven winning culture to accelerate prospect development.
Under the agreement, players who hold NHL or AHL contracts can be assigned to the Everblades when deemed ready for professional competition, while athletes signed directly to the ECHL will remain with the Nailers.
The realignment leaves the Wheeling Nailers without an NHL parent club, prompting the organization to explore new affiliations or adjust its player development approach to maintain competitiveness.
Team executives emphasized that the partnership reflects the Hoffmann Family’s broader vision of consolidating investment around their Florida‑based franchises, leveraging the Everblades’ championship pedigree to benefit the Penguins’ future roster.