Pittsburgh Penguins

On May 16, 2014, Archibald signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.^[13] Archibald made his NHL debut on March 5, 2016, in a home game against the Calgary Flames^[14] but was soon reassigned to the Penguins AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

He was recalled back to the Penguins on February 11, 2017, which is also when he scored his first 2 NHL goals in a game against the Arizona Coyotes. However, he was returned to the Penguins AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins two games later. He was recalled to the Pittsburgh in late March and competed in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals, lifting the Stanley Cup after teammate Jake Guentzel.^[15]

On July 12, 2017, Archibald re-signed with the Penguins on a two-year, one-way contract with an average annual value of $675,000.^[16][17]

In the 2017–18 season, Archibald made the Penguins' opening night roster. On December 1, 2017, he was reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a conditioning stint.^[18]

Arizona Coyotes

On December 19, 2017 the Penguins traded Archibald, along with Sean Maguire and a 6th-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Michael Leighton and a fourth-round pick in 2019. This trade's purpose was to clear space for a follow-up trade which brought defenceman Jamie Oleksiak to Pittsburgh from Dallas.^[19]

The Coyotes chose not to tender Archibald a qualifying offer after the 2018–19 season, and he was released into free agency.^[20]

Edmonton Oilers

On July 16, 2019, the Edmonton Oilers signed Archibald to a one-year contract.^[21] Shortly into the 2019–20 season, while playing on the checking line with Riley Sheahan and Jujhar Khaira, he fractured his right foot under unspecified circumstances.^[22] Even after his return, he did not score a goal until December 1, when he was promoted to the top line alongside Connor McDavid. Archibald received a shot from Darnell Nurse to help put the Oilers up 5–2 over the Vancouver Canucks.^[23] Although he was not a permanent fixture on the top line, Archibald was often the first to be promoted during the 2019–20 season when one of McDavid's usual partners was unavailable.^[24] On March 7, 2020, the Oilers signed Archibald to a two-year contract extension that would take him through the 2021–22 season.^[25] The following week, the NHL chose to suspend the regular season indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic;^[26] at the time of the pause, Archibald had 12 goals and 21 points in 62 games.^[27] When the NHL resumed play for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs in July, Archibald was one of 31 Oilers invited into the Edmonton "bubble".^[28] There, the Oilers lost the qualifying round 3-1 against the Chicago Blackhawks.^[29]

On October 3, 2021, Oilers medical staff announced that Archibald would be out indefinitely because of myocarditis, which developed after he contracted COVID-19 during the summer of 2021.^[30] By March 12, 2022, he had made a full recovery and returned to the Oilers line up. However, he would be limited by the travel restrictions Canada currently has in place for unvaccinated people crossing the border. He was able to participate in eight of the final twenty-four games of the regular season, largely in a fourth line role.^[31] The Oilers qualified for the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, and Archibald participated in the team's deep run to the Western Conference Final, where they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in four games.^[32]

Return to Pittsburgh

As a free agent from the Oilers, Archibald returned to his original club, the Pittsburgh Penguins, after signing a one-year, $900,000 contract on July 13, 2022.^[33]

Tampa Bay Lightning

On July 1, 2023, Archibald signed as a free agent to a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.^[34] On September 9, 2023 it was announced by Lightning General Manager, Julien BriseBois, that Josh Archibald was “placed on unconditional waivers… for the purpose of terminating his contract” following talks with Archibald and his agent where it was made clear that Josh would not be playing hockey for unspecified reasons.^[35]