WHEELING – The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced their 2026 Protected List.

Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that:

1. Signed an SPC in 2025-26 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR

2. Signed an SPC in 2025-26, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR

3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR

4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR

5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2025-26 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR

6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released.

The Wheeling Nailers Protected List consists of the following 22 players:

Forwards: Tanner Andrew, Craig Armstrong, Owen Cole, Randy Hernández, Nick Hutchison, Eli Lieffers, Connor Lockhart, Ryan Mahshie, Jordan Martel, Logan Pietila, Mike Posma, Matthew Quercia, Tiernan Shoudy and Jack Works.

Defensemen: Bogdans Hodass, Alexander Kuqali, Louie Roehl, Evan Stella, Aidan Sutter and Tristan Thompson.

Goalies: Gabriel D’Aigle and Jake Smith.

The next key offseason date is June 20. All future-consideration trades must be completed by 3 p.m. that day. After that, season-ending rosters are due by 3 p.m. on June 22. Teams may begin signing players for the 2026-27 season on June 23.