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Offseason Central

Although it's only five months long, the hockey offseason is one of the busiest times of the year, and it's hard to keep track of where everyone's favorite player has signed. We're going to take as much confusion and searching out of the game for you as possible, and make Offseason Central your one-stop shop for player movement this summer.

The first thing to cover is significant dates, so get your calendars out.
 
Protected List: Due June 8th at 3:00 p.m.
Only ECHL contracts can be on this list. There is no limit to how many players can be listed, and even players who were suspended or extended a qualifying offer last summer may be included.

Future Considerations Trade Deadline: June 20th at 3:00 p.m.
Trades that have future considerations components must be completed by this date.

Season-Ending Roster: Due June 22nd at 3:00 p.m.
Maximum 20 players. Only ECHL contracts can be on this list. If a team names a player to its season-ending roster, that team has exclusive rights to negotiate with and sign that player until qualifying offers are due.

FIRST DAY TO SIGN CONTRACTS: June 23rd
Get excited! This is when pen can start getting put to paper, and you begin to find out who will be taking the ice for the upcoming season!

Qualifying Offers Due: July 7th at 11:59 p.m.
Maximum 8 players. If a team hasn't signed a player prior to this date, they may extend that player a qualifying offer. That offer ensures that the player's ECHL rights stay with that team for a full season. The exception to that rule is veterans (260 pro games or more), who can become a restricted free agent on August 8th, if they have not signed or accepted the offer.

Below, you will see various lists of players who played with the Nailers in 2024-25, or had their ECHL rights with Wheeling in 2024-25, and what their statuses are for the 2025-26 season.

ECHL Contracts

Player
Name		Protected
List		Season-
Ending
Roster		Qualifying
Offer		Status
for
2025-26
Finn Harding✓  Signed by Pittsburgh
Chase Pietila✓  Signed by Pittsburgh
Jaxon Castor✓   
David Drake
(Veteran)		✓   
Randy Hernandez
(Trade from Atlanta)		✓   
David Jankowski✓   
Brent Johnson✓   
Matt Koopman✓   
Peter Laviolette III✓   
Jordan Martel✓   
Logan Neaton
(Trade from Indy)		✓   
Chris Ortiz✓   
Matthew Quercia✓   
Louie Roehl✓   
Aidan Sutter✓   
Cole Tymkin✓   
Jack Works✓   
Eli Lieffers✓  Signed by Nantes (France)
Evan Stella
(Trade from
Bloomington)		✓  Signed by HC Olomouc (Czechia)
     
Davis Bunz
(2024 Qualifying Offer)		✓   
Cédric Desruisseaux
(2024 Qualifying Offer)		✓   
James Hardie
(Suspended - Europe)		✓   
Nick Hutchison
(Suspended - Europe)		✓  Signed by Villacher SV (Austria)
Tanner Laderoute
(2024 Qualifying Offer)
(Retired)		✓   
Sam Ruffin
(Suspended - SPHL)		✓   
Brandon Tabakin
(Suspended - Retired)		✓   
Mitch Walinski
(Suspended - Europe)		✓   

AHL Contracts

Player
Name		2024-25
Status		Status
for
2025-26
Jack Beck1-year AHL contractSigned by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Atley Calvert1st of 2-year AHL contractSigned by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Matty De St. Phalle1st of 2-year AHL contractSigned by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Zach Gallant1st of 2-year AHL contractSigned by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Kyle Jackson1-year AHL contract 
Gabe Klassen1st of 2-year AHL contractSigned by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Justin Lee1-year AHL contract 
Mats Lindgren1-year AHL contract 
Logan Pietila1-year AHL contract 
Phip Waugh2nd of 2-year AHL contract 

NHL Contracts

Player
Name		2024-25
Status		Status
for
2025-26
Isaac Belliveau2nd of 3-year NHL contractSigned by Pittsburgh
Taylor Gauthier3rd of 3-year NHL contract 
Sergei Murashov1st of 3-year NHL contractSigned by Pittsburgh

Organizational Depth

Listed below are the players who are currently signed to either NHL or AHL contracts by the Penguins.

Goaltenders

NameNHL/AHL Contract
Joel BlomqvistNHL
Tristan JarryNHL
Filip LarssonNHL
Sergei MurashovNHL
Alex NedeljkovicNHL
Maxim PavlenkoAHL

Defensemen

NameNHL/AHL Contract
Sebastian AhoNHL
Isaac BelliveauNHL
Finn HardingNHL
Ryan GravesNHL
Erik KarlssonNHL
Vladislav KolyachonokNHL
Daniel LaatschNHL
Kris LetangNHL
Owen PickeringNHL
Emil PieniniemiNHL
Chase PietilaNHL
Ryan SheaNHL
Jack St. IvanyNHL
David BreazealeAHL
Tommy BudnickAHL

Forwards

NameNHL/AHL Contract
Noel AcciariNHL
Tristan BrozNHL
Sidney CrosbyNHL
Filip HallanderNHL
Avery HayesNHL
Kevin HayesNHL
Danton HeinenNHL
Mikhail IlyinNHL
Boko ImamaNHL
Ville KoivunenNHL
Joona KoppanenNHL
Blake LizotteNHL
Evgeni MalkinNHL
Rutger McGroartyNHL
Thomas NovakNHL
Samuel PoulinNHL
Valtteri PuustinenNHL
Rickard RakellNHL
Bryan RustNHL
Chase StillmanNHL
Raivis AnsonsAHL
Jack BeckAHL
Atley CalvertAHL
Matty De St. PhalleAHL
Brayden EdwardsAHL
Zach GallantAHL
Aaron HuglenAHL
Gabe KlassenAHL
Nolan RenwickAHL
Zach UrdahlAHL