A Pittsburgh Penguins Masterclass: Trading For Your Own Prospects

On March 21, 2026, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed goaltender prospect Gabriel D'Aigle to a three-year, entry-level contract. 

D'Aigle was selected 84th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft by general manager Kyle Dubas and the brass in the front office. While he's no Sergei Murashov, the team made quite the gesture to protect their investment in a prospect who's been below an AHL-tier goalie this season. 

"It is only because of very unique circumstances that we must say goodbye at this time," Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement. "The Nailers have run a first-class operation for many years, and any organization would be fortunate to have them as an affiliate.

After the team ended its affiliation with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers, a significant 29-year relationship due to ownership decisions by the Hoffman Family. These moves have proven to be unpopular, as fans wanted to preserve the status quo. 

Well, with a new affiliation with the Florida Everblades, the team had to make a radical decision to protect their own investment. 

Things would continue to get hairy beforehand, as the Nailers had to send D'Aigle a qualifying offer in order to retain his rights to be traded. A sloppy mess, led by the hubris of the Hoffman family.

However, that move to Florida didn’t occur until July 16, one week after ECHL teams had to submit qualifying offers to eight players, holding their rights for the next season. Wheeling qualified D’Aigle.

Tuesday evening, Wheeling traded him to Florida, and the curious situation that began when Wheeling extended a qualifying offer to D’Aigle, thus retaining his ECHL rights, came to a close.

They initiated a trade with the Wheeling Nailers to secure access to their own prospect. 

The Wheeling Nailers have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired defenseman Hunter Sansbury from the Florida Everblades in exchange for the ECHL rights to goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle.

The Penguins wouldn't go to such lengths in order to maintain the development plan for D'Aigle unless they suspect he has a potential future in the organization.