Oct 4, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Avery Hayes (85) moves the puck as Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (77) defends during the first period against at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

A potential key part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' future at the forward position earned himself a payday.

On Thursday, the Penguins announced that they have signed forward Avery Hayes to a two-year entry-level contract that runs through the 2026-27 season.

Hayes, 22, originally was signed undrafted by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins prior to the 2023-24 campaign. In his first AHL season, he battled injuries and tallied just six goals and nine points in 29 games.

But he has shown significant growth in his second professional campaign, becoming a big part of WBS's success.

In 44 games this season, Hayes has registered 17 goals and 35 points to go along with a plus-17 rating and four game-winning goals. He has spent a large portion of the season - dating back to the Prospects Challege in Buffalo last summer - on a second line with Rutger McGroarty and Vasily Ponomarev, both of whom figure to be part of the NHL roster in the near future.

Prior to professional hockey, Hayes - a native of Westland, Mich. - spent several seasons between the Peterborough Petes and the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL. In his final season with Brantford in 2022-23, he put up 27 goals and 41 points in 33 games.

The journey has ben unconventional for Hayes, but this is certainly a contract well-earned by the young forward.

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Penguins Forward Prospect Earns Entry-Level Contract