A New ECHL Era
Penguins Conclude Nearly Three-Decade Affiliation with Nailers Amid Ownership-Driven Realignment
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Key Points
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Under Hoffmann Family ownership, the Florida Everblades have won four championships since 2019, including a three-year run from 2022 to 2024 and the 2026 Kelly Cup.
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The NHL board of governors approved Fenway Sports Group's sale of the Penguins to the Hoffmann Family Companies, enabling the ownership transition that drives the affiliate realignment.
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There is no official confirmation yet on whether the Everblades will replace the Nailers as the Penguins’ ECHL affiliate; the Penguins did not state a replacement plan in the announcement.
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David Hoffmann publicly signaled a strong preference for the Everblades as the Penguins’ ECHL affiliate, quipping, '100%. They’d run me out of Naples if that didn’t happen.'
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The Wheeling Nailers–Penguins affiliation officially ended on July 16, 2026, marking the closing of the longest-running NHL–ECHL partnership after nearly three decades.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have ended their 29-year ECHL affiliation with the Wheeling Nailers, closing the longest-running NHL–ECHL partnership in history. The split became official on July 16, 2026, driven by the Hoffmann Family of Companies' purchase of the Penguins from Fenway Sports Group, according to WTOV9.
General manager Kyle Dubas said the decision came under "very unique circumstances" but praised Wheeling's decades of work developing Penguins prospects. The Hoffmann family, who already own the Florida Everblades, are widely expected to make that team Pittsburgh's new ECHL affiliate, per The Intelligencer.
Hoffmann Ownership Deal Triggers Affiliate Shake-Up
The NHL board of governors approved Fenway Sports Group's sale of the Penguins to the Hoffmann Family Companies, clearing the way for a full organizational realignment. The Hoffmanns are based in Florida and have owned the ECHL's Florida Everblades since 2019, according to Observer-Reporter. That ownership overlap made keeping the Wheeling affiliation complicated.
David Hoffmann made his preference clear. He said the Everblades would become Pittsburgh's ECHL affiliate, quipping, "100%. They'd run me out of Naples if that didn't happen." The Penguins have not yet made a formal announcement naming the Everblades as the official replacement, per Tribune-Live.
Everblades Have Been a Winning Machine Since 2019
The Florida Everblades are not just a convenient choice — they are one of the ECHL's most successful franchises. Under Hoffmann ownership, the team won four Kelly Cup championships. That includes three straight titles from 2022 to 2024 and the 2026 Kelly Cup, according to WTOV9.
That track record makes the Everblades an attractive development hub for Penguins prospects. The Penguins have not publicly confirmed the Everblades as the replacement, but the expectation is clear based on Hoffmann's public comments, per The Intelligencer.
Nearly Three Decades of Nailers–Penguins History Closes
The Wheeling Nailers served as a key part of the Penguins' player development pipeline for nearly 30 years. The affiliation shaped countless careers and built deep ties with the Wheeling, West Virginia community. Dubas acknowledged that history directly in the announcement, according to WCHSTV.
Fans and local stakeholders noted the Nailers' wide impact — not just on the ice but in the city itself. The split ends a run that stood as the longest active NHL–ECHL affiliation, per Observer-Reporter. No other NHL team had maintained a single ECHL affiliate relationship for as long.
What Comes Next for Both Organizations
The Penguins are now expected to finalize a new ECHL affiliation deal with the Florida Everblades ahead of the 2026–27 season. Hoffmann's public comments suggest that announcement is a formality. The Everblades are already aligned with the Hoffmann family's broader sports vision, according to Tribune-Live.
The Wheeling Nailers, meanwhile, will need to find a new NHL affiliate to replace Pittsburgh. Their future partnership is unresolved as of July 16, 2026. The Nailers remain an active ECHL franchise with a strong fanbase, but the loss of a 29-year partner is a major shift, per The Intelligencer.
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