The Pittsburgh Penguins have ended their 29-year affiliation with the Wheeling Nailers to partner with the Florida Everblades for the 2026-27 season. The transition follows the recent acquisition of the Penguins by the Hoffmann Family of Companies, which already owns the ECHL champion Everblades, centralizing the franchise’s development model.
Hoffmann Ownership Drives Organizational Shift
The change in affiliation, announced by the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 16, 2026, was widely anticipated following the Chicago-based Hoffmann Group’s acquisition of the NHL club. The Hoffmann family has owned the Florida Everblades since 2019, and the move aligns the Penguins’ three-tiered development system—spanning the NHL, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, and the ECHL—under a single ownership umbrella.
While the consolidation makes business sense, it concludes the longest-running ECHL-NHL partnership in league history. Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas acknowledged the significance of the separation, describing the circumstances as very unique
and noting that the Nailers have been an invaluable part of the organization’s player development process
for nearly three decades.
Impact on Player Development and Regional Ties
The proximity of the Wheeling Nailers, located just 60 miles from Pittsburgh, provided logistical advantages that are now severed. The arrangement previously allowed for rapid player movement, including instances where emergency backup goaltenders could travel to PPG Paints Arena on short notice. Dubas highlighted the historical success of this pipeline, referencing NHL contributors such as Tom Kuhnhackl, Avery Hayes, and Sergei Murashov, all of whom began their professional careers in West Virginia.
Despite the end of the partnership, the Penguins’ front office expressed confidence in the new arrangement. As an organization, our player development system puts a strong emphasis on a three-tiered development model between the NHL, AHL and ECHL, and we feel that Florida’s championship pedigree and winning environment will help our players reach their maximum potential,
said assistant general manager Jason Spezza.
Florida Everblades’ Competitive Pedigree
The Everblades enter the partnership as one of the most successful franchises in ECHL history. Based in Estero, Florida, the team has secured five Kelly Cup titles, including four championships in the last five years. Their success extends to attendance as well; according to league data, the Everblades ranked seventh in the ECHL in per-game attendance during the 2025-26 season, drawing over 6,500 fans per game, compared to Wheeling’s average of roughly 2,500.
Wheeling Nailers’ Future Affiliation Status
The Wheeling Nailers are now tasked with securing a new NHL partner. Nailers president and governor Brian Komorowski stated that the organization understands the business reality of the Hoffmann family’s ownership transition. We have already begun speaking with other NHL teams about our affiliation for the future,
Komorowski said.
Several NHL clubs currently lack an ECHL affiliate, leaving the Nailers with potential paths forward.
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Buffalo Sabres
- New York Rangers
- Utah Mammoth
As the Nailers look to replace a 29-year partnership, the Dallas Stars and Idaho Steelheads now hold the title for the longest active affiliation in the ECHL, a relationship that has been in place since the 2005-06 season.
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