The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially named the Florida Everblades as the organization’s new ECHL affiliate. This announcement was made by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.
The partnership with the Florida Everblades is set to begin with the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. The Everblades will serve as the secondary developmental affiliate for the Penguins, working alongside the primary developmental affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Assistant General Manager Jason Spezza expressed enthusiasm for the new affiliation, highlighting the Everblades as a premier organization within the ECHL. He emphasized the Penguins‘ commitment to a three-tiered player development model, encompassing the NHL, AHL, and ECHL levels.
Spezza noted that the Everblades‘ championship history and winning culture are expected to help Penguins prospects reach their full potential. The goal is to provide quality prospects to Head Coach Brad Ralph to help the Everblades continue their success in Southwest Florida.
End of a long-standing affiliation
This new affiliation follows the conclusion of a nearly 29-year partnership between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Wheeling Nailers. This long-standing relationship, which began in 1996, was considered one of the most stable in professional hockey.
The Penguins organization acknowledged the Nailers‘ role as a partner for nearly three decades, with Kyle Dubas expressing gratitude for their contributions. The team’s statement indicated that the separation was due to unique circumstances.
The affiliation with Wheeling was integral to the Penguins‘ player development system, providing professional experience and maintaining a consistent organizational identity for prospects. Players such as Carter Rowney, Tom Kühnhackl, and Josh Archibald, all Stanley Cup Champions, developed through the Nailers system.
The city of Wheeling benefited from the continuity provided by this partnership within the often-changing landscape of the ECHL. Despite changes in coaching staff, ownership, and division alignments, the black and gold colours of the Penguins remained a constant, helping to shape the Nailers‘ identity.
The Penguins extended well wishes to the city of Wheeling, the Nailers, and their fans, recognizing them as a great ECHL franchise. The organization stated that any team would be fortunate to have the Nailers as an affiliate, underscoring their first-class operation.
The Florida Everblades’ distinguished history
The decision to affiliate with the Florida Everblades comes after the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ ownership changed to the Hoffmann Family. During their introductory press conference, the new owners announced their intention to align the Penguins with the Everblades, a team already owned by the Hoffmann Family of Companies.
The Florida Everblades, founded in 1998, are based in Estero, Florida, within the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area. Acquired by David Hoffmann and Hoffmann Family of Companies in 2019, the Everblades are recognized as one of the most successful clubs in ECHL history.
The Everblades hold the record for the most Kelly Cup championships, with a total of five titles. This includes winning the championship in four of the last five seasons, specifically in 2026, 2024, 2023, and 2022, in addition to their 2012 victory. They are also the only team in ECHL history to win the Kelly Cup in three consecutive seasons.
The team has demonstrated consistent performance, qualifying for the postseason in 25 of their 26 seasons. Furthermore, the Everblades hold the ECHL record for both playoff games played and playoff wins.
The Everblades compete in the ECHL‘s South Division within the Eastern Conference, bringing a strong competitive environment for Penguins prospects.
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Source: nhl.com
