Penguins forward prospect Raivis Ansons signs AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Raivis Ansons has signed an American Hockey League (AHL) contract for the 2025-26 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

A left-handed shot, Ansons is in the final weeks of a three-year, entry-level contract he signed with the NHL club in May 2022. With regards to his NHL status, he is scheduled to become a restricted free agent July 1.

Injuries limited the 23-year-old Ansons to nine AHL games — none since Dec. 7 — and one goal during the 2024-25 season.

A fifth-round pick (No. 149 overall) in 2020, Ansons (6-foot-1, 192 pounds) has spent parts of the past three seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Appearing in 87 games over that span, he has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) while primarily being deployed as a bottom-six forward in defensive situations.

Pittsburgh Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos — who oversees the organization’s prospects — has expressed considerable optimism over Ansons’ potential in the past.

“He’s a special kid,” Kostopoulos said in 2022. “I don’t think Raivis knows how good of a hockey player he is.

“He does things on the ice that don’t always get noticed but are essential to winning. He makes little plays with the puck. He makes wall plays. He’s defensive. You don’t see many kids at his age block pucks the way that he does. He just does all these little things well, he kills penalties, he plays on the power play. I’m really excited about Raivis.”