Brother Avery signed NHL contract with Pittsburgh
From Pensburgh in February:
Hayes has a brother, Travis, who is the 117th ranked North American skater for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Travis happens to play for a team called the Soo Greyhounds, and the Penguins happen to have five total draft picks in Rounds 5-7 of the upcoming draft. The Pens’ organization has gotten into the family business a little recently, signing Logan Pietila to a contract and drafting his brother Chase in 2024, could the Hayes boys be next?
The answer was yes, albeit it happened in the fourth round that the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Travis Hayes — brother of Avery a player who has risen through the rankings from AHL contract to NHL prospect with the Pens.
Travis plays for the Soo, former stomping ground of Kyle Dubas, which probably didn’t hurt things.
The Pittsburgh Penguins select Travis Hayes 105th overall! pic.twitter.com/jlRLeU9mPQ
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) June 28, 2025
Hayes scored 51 points in 65 games in the OHL this season, but there are some signs that he could be in-line for a bigger role and a breakout statistically in the years to come in juniors.
Always interesting to look at guys who had little PP scoring. Quite a few @CHLHockey steals in last 20 years? Guys who didnt get PP time+exploded after
Lucas Karmiris, Savin Virk, Travis Hayes, Jordan Gavin, Tanner Lam
ahad over 0.65 non-PP P/GP despite 0.9 P/GP max #NHLDraft https://t.co/Sifa0PDBn0
— Alexander Appleyard (@avappleyard) June 25, 2025
To this point, Hayes actually has a somewhat decent profile at this point of the draft for his future. Watch for this one to keep growing on charts like these in the years to come.
The opportunity cost of selecting Hayes might have meant passing on local product and fellow small-but-skilled LJ Mooney. The Pens, barring trades, aren’t scheduled to pick again until 130th overall.