The Connor Dewar and Ilya Solovyov signings are solid start to Penguins offseason

Q: What are the details of Connor Dewar's new contract with the Penguins?

Connor Dewar has signed a two-year contract worth $4.5 million, with an annual salary cap hit of $2.25 million.

Q: How does Ilya Solovyov's signing impact the Penguins' defense?

Ilya Solovyov's one-year, $850,000 contract provides the Penguins with a solid depth option for their defensive lineup.

Q: What is the significance of the Dewar-Lizotte duo for the Penguins?

The Dewar-Lizotte duo has shown strong performance metrics, outscoring opponents and excelling in penalty-killing situations, making them crucial for the team's fourth line.

Q: Who are the remaining free agents the Penguins should consider re-signing?

The Penguins should focus on re-signing forwards Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, along with goalie Arturs Silovs.

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 08: Connor Dewar #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his third period goal against the Boston Bruins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 8, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images Kyle Dubas opened up the Pittsburgh Penguins offseason on Thursday by re-signing two depth players in forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Ilya Solovyov. Dewar, a pending unrestricted free agent, received a two-year, $4.5 million extension with a $2.25 million salary cap hit per season. Solovyov, meanwhile, received a one-year, $850,000 contract. On the surface, they are relatively minor extensions. But they are still solid pieces of work and provide some necessary depth for the 2026-27 season. Dewar is the most noteworthy of the moves and the one that is likely to have the biggest impact. It’s also probably the best value. Dewar is still only 26 years old, and while he is coming off a career year offensively, it was not so outrageously above his previous numbers that it figures to be unsustainable or something he can not repeat. It is also only a minor raise over what he was earning on his previous contract, both in terms of real dollars ($1.1 million vs. $2.25 million) and percentage of the salary cap (1.15 percent vs. 2.2 percent). But what it really does is continue to give the Penguins the foundation of a very good, very affordable fourth line. With also back in the mix, the Dewar-Lizotte duo figures to be the core part of that line. In parts of two seasons together that duo has played 530 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey together, outscoring their opponents by a 21-19 margin, while also coming out on the positive side of almost every possession and scoring chance metric. They are 52.7 percent in shot attempt share, 54.2 percent in scoring chance share, 50.0 percent in high-danger scoring chance share and 51.5 percent share in expected goals share. They tilt the ice in the Penguins’ favor, and they do it while facing the heaviest defensive zone starts on the team. In those minutes together the Dewar-Lizotte duo started just 14.9 percent of their shifts in the offensive zone. That is effective. Very effective. They have also been one of the Penguins’ best penalty-killing duos, with the team allowing just 3.95 goals per 60 minutes of shorthanded ice-time and 7.13 expected goals against per 60 minutes. When that duo is not on the ice the Penguins allowed 8.88 goals per 60 minutes and 7.74 expected goals per 60 minutes. Getting the two of them for a combined salary cap hit of just $4.5 million for the next two years (Lizotte has an extra year beyond that) is extremely cap-friendly. Especially when that line also figures to have somebody like or on it. It’s just smart business. Especially when if the Penguins were going to try and find a replacement for Dewar on the open-market it was probably going to end up costing them significantly more money for a player that was likely older, and probably not as good. What gets teams into trouble with the salary cap isn’t overpaying for its top players or stars at the top of the lineup. It’s making a bunch of little mistakes on the lower half of the roster and giving too much money, over too many years to depth players. You don’t need to sign a bottom-six player to a seven-year deal. You don’t need to pay $4 or $5 million per year for somebody that is going to play on your fourth line. This is the perfect depth signing, and it is even better that it is for a player that is still in their mid-20s and has a decent track record of success with the team. Solovyov, meanwhile, just seems like a classic depth signing and the type of player you need to fill out a sixth-seventh defenseman role. He did not get a lot of playing time following the trade from , but he always seemed to hold his own. So much so that I would not hate seeing him get an opportunity to get more of an extended look next season. Now that they are back there are really only three pending free agents (restricted or unrestricted) from last year’s team that the Penguins should be interested in bringing back on new deals: Forwards and and goalie . As a restricted free agent, and given the way he played, Chinakhov seems like a given, unless some sort of unforeseen trade opportunity presents itself. Silovs, a restricted free agent, figures to be part of the goalie duo next season along with prized goalie prospect . Malkin is still the bigger mystery. Beyond those two I would be fine with letting everybody else walk. had a great regular season, but his playoff performance was such a negative that it pretty much soured almost everybody on the thought of a new contract. Especially at the price he might receive in a weak free agent class, under a rising cap, and coming off a 33-goal season. I like what did, and he was a solid, effective player. But he is going to be 30 years old and, like Mantha, could be looking at the type of contract that could be one of those little mistakes that can quickly add up into big mistakes. and Connor Timmins? They effectively did their job as contract fodder to help the Penguins acquire future draft pick assets. Similar thought with goalie , who not only helped bring in a longer-team asset (second-round pick), but also helped get rid of ’s contract. Noel Accairi? Really good part of the fourth line, but it is time for somebody younger (and cheaper) to fill that spot. There is still a lot of work ahead this offseason, but they filled two roster spots with useful depth pieces that do not hurt the cap, break the bank or cost them any additional assets. Solid start to the offseason.