Avery Hayes Makes NHL Debut Count, Then Follows It Up with AHL Hat Trick
Sometimes, a player bursts onto the scene in a way that makes you stop what you're doing and take notice. This week, that player was Avery Hayes.
Called up to the Pittsburgh Penguins on short notice due to Noel Acciari being sidelined with an illness, Hayes didn’t just fill a roster spot-he made history. In his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres, the undrafted forward wasted no time making an impact.
His very first shot on goal found the back of the net, a moment every young player dreams about. Hayes beat two defenders to a loose puck and snapped it past Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon, announcing his arrival in emphatic fashion.
But he wasn’t done.
Later in that same first period, Hayes struck again-this time off a sharp feed from Anthony Mantha. Hayes went upstairs with a quick release, giving the Penguins a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission.
Two goals in the opening 20 minutes of your NHL debut? That’s not just rare-it’s historic.
Hayes became just the 12th undrafted player in NHL history to score multiple goals in his debut, and only the seventh to do it in the first period of their first game. That’s elite company, and a testament to both his skill and his readiness for the moment.
The Penguins would go on to win that game 5-2, but for Hayes, the whirlwind wasn’t over. He was reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the very next day, suiting up in the AHL on Saturday night against the Hershey Bears. If there were any questions about his confidence or momentum, he answered them in style-with a hat trick.
Hayes opened the scoring on the power play, finishing off a slick pass from Rutger McGroarty at the side of the net. A few minutes later, he struck again, this time while shorthanded, ripping a shot that showed off his quick hands and lethal release.
And in overtime, with the game on the line and his stick literally breaking mid-shot, Hayes still managed to bury the game-winner on the power play. Sometimes the hockey gods just smile on a guy.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton came away with a 4-3 overtime win, extending their win streak to five games heading into the AHL All-Star break. They now sit at 32-12-2-2 on the season, and Hayes’ performance is a major reason why.
It’s clear that Hayes has that “it” factor-poise, finish, and an ability to rise to the moment. Whether it’s the NHL or AHL, he’s proving he belongs. It may have started with a call-up out of necessity, but based on what we’ve seen, it won’t be long before Avery Hayes earns a more permanent spot in Pittsburgh’s lineup.