The Pittsburgh Penguins have ensured that goaltender Taylor Gauthier will remain in the organization, announcing Tuesday that they have signed the netminder to a one-year contract extension for the 2026-27 season.
President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced the deal, which is a two-way contract carrying an average annual value of $850,000 at the NHL level.
Gauthier, 25, completed his fourth season in the Penguins organization in 2025-26, spending the campaign with the Wheeling Nailers while continuing to serve as organizational depth for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Calgary, Alberta native originally joined Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent when he signed with the club on March 1, 2022.
The 6-foot-2, 209-pound netminder enjoyed another strong campaign with Wheeling, posting a 21-9-5 record in 36 appearances while recording a 2.09 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Dominant March Earned League Recognition
His strongest stretch came in March, when he earned Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month honors after going 8-1-1 with two shutouts, a 1.73 goals-against average, and a .949 save percentage in 11 appearances. He allowed two goals or fewer in seven outings and recorded at least 29 saves in 10 contests. Among the highlights was a 38-save performance in a shootout victory over the Trois-Rivières Lions and a 49-save effort in a 2-1 win against the Worcester Railers. One night earlier, he stopped all 34 shots he faced in a 4-0 victory over Worcester, setting a new franchise record with his 10th career shutout.
Gauthier proved instrumental during Wheeling’s postseason run. He went 9-6 with two overtime losses in 17 playoff appearances, posting a 2.23 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage, and three shutouts as the Nailers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2016.
Proven Presence in Net
Over 124 regular-season games with Wheeling from 2022 through 2026, Gauthier compiled a 71-42-9 record with a 2.26 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage, and 10 shutouts. Gauthier has already etched his name into the Wheeling record book, entering the 2026-27 season as the franchise leader among goaltenders in wins, games played, and shutouts.
During the 2023-24 season, Gauthier was named ECHL Goaltender of the Year and earned First-Team All-ECHL honors after leading the league with a .923 save percentage.
At the AHL level, Gauthier has appeared in 25 career games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, posting a 10-5-7 record with a 2.77 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Before beginning his professional career, Gauthier spent five seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Prince George Cougars and Portland Winterhawks. Over 194 WHL games, he posted a 77-91-11 record with a 3.03 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage, and 10 shutouts. . Internationally, he won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and captured silver at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The extension keeps another experienced option in Pittsburgh’s goaltending pipeline. After establishing himself as one of the most accomplished goaltenders in Wheeling history, the 25-year-old will have another season to build on that success.
Sources
Pittsburgh Penguins. “Penguins Re-Sign Goaltender Taylor Gauthier to One-Year Contract Extension.” June 16, 2026.
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