The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed goaltender Maxim Pavlenko to a one-year American Hockey League contract for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday.
A native of Kazakhstan, the 22-year-old Pavlenko has spent the past two seasons with Ryazan-VDV of Russia’s Supreme Hockey League, the second-tier league in that country.
Appearing in seven VHL games this past season, Pavlenko had a 2-3-0 record, a 2.81 goals-against average, .901 save percentage and one shutout.
The left-catching Pavelenko (6-foot-5, 181 pounds) served as Kazakhstan’s primary goaltender in last month’s International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championship tournament. Playing in seven games, Pavlenko posted a 1-4-0 mark, a 3.75 GAA and .881 save percentage.
