While most of the focus for the offseason is going to be on the Pittsburgh Penguins pending unrestricted free agents (like, say, Evgeni Malkin) and what they do with their available salary cap space, there’s another group of players that should get some attention. It is the eight players entering the final year of their current contracts and eligible for new contracts on July 1.
Let’s take a quick look at that group and try to determine if the Penguins should try to keep them, shop them or simply
let them move on.
Sidney Crosby: Extend
I’m not sure there is much more analysis needed here.
He’s still playing at a high level. He should continue to do so for at least another couple of years. As long as he wants to keep playing it’s probably a safe assumption he is here. Whether that’s a longer-term deal, year-to-year, shorter-term deals … whatever. He is here. He will be here. That is what the Penguins probably want. It is what he probably wants. Easy call.
Erik Karlsson: Shop, but consider an extension
I wouldn’t trade Karlsson just for the sake of trading him because you think that’s what you need to do in a rebuild. But I also wouldn’t completely take him off the table. You’re not doing your job if you’re not at least listening, keeping an open mind and seeing what is out there.
Especially given the lack of defensemen on the free agent market and the fact you might be able to get a really solid return for him. His value has to be sky-high right now, or at least higher than it’s been, and there will no doubt be at least some interested teams.
But … Kyle Dubas has not totally ruled out the idea of an extension, and even though he is in his mid-30s it could make sense. Defensive depth is thin, Karlsson is still a top-pairing defender and he should still have a few high-level years remaining.
Listen to offers. See what’s out there. But keep an extension on the table.
Tommy Novak: Shop/Trade
Novak is by no means a bad player. He has a role on an NHL team, and it can be a very fluid role given his versatility to play up and down the lineup, on the wing, at center, and pretty much anywhere he is needed. But like I said in his year-in-review entry, he can also be a little frustrating. He’s good, but he also lulls you into wanting a little more given his talent. His playoff showings have also left something to be desired. Plus, when his next contract begins he will be 30 years old.
I am okay paying superstars into their 30s, because even if they decline and regress they are starting from a significantly higher point and can still remain productive.
But when you start talking about second-and third-tier players, that is where contracts into their 30s start to become problematic.
Shop him and see what’s out there.
Justin Brazeau: Shop/move on
Brazeau was part of the Penguins’ highly successful 2025 offseason and exceeded everybody’s expectations by scoring 17 goals with 34 total points. He’s big. He brings some physicality. He is extremely talented for his size and always seems to be a late-bloomer at every level.
But like Novak you are talking about a non-star player in his late 20s when his next contract kicks, and it will almost certainly be a contract that goes into his 30s. This is a situation where you found some lightning in a bottle, ride it out for as long as you can, and then try to find the next Justin Brazeau. If you slip out of the playoff race by the trade deadline he would be ideal trade fodder given his cheap salary.
Samuel Girard: Shop, but consider an extension
I am going to stay bullish on this, but I am not writing off Sam Girard.
I just think there’s more to his game than what we saw after the trade this past season, and I want to see what he does with a fresh start at the beginning of the season. There’s talent there. He’s been a good NHL player before. And as I said with Karlsson, the defensive depth in the organization isn’t great at the moment when it comes to short-term or medium-term options. Owen Pickering isn’t that guy. Harrison Brunicke might be that guy, but there is only one of him. You are going to need people here.
I am not extending him right now now.
I wouldn’t turn down reasonable trades for him.
But I’m keeping an open mind toward an extension, especially if he comes back strong next season. There were some rocky moments at the end of the season and in the playoffs, but there were also some really good moments.
Parker Wotherspoon: Move on
Wotherspoon was another offseason surprise that made a bigger-than-expected impact. He went from an expected depth piece to a top-pairing defenseman alongside Karlsson for pretty much the entire season, and it was one of the most effective defense pairings in the NHL. That’s great. But I wouldn’t push my luck on it, especially when Karlsson’s future in Pittsburgh is in some question given HIS contract situation.
The problem with Wotherspoon is that while he was very effective alongside Karlsson, his impact took a significant hit when he was away from Karlsson.
There was a pretty notable and significant Karlsson boost happening here. You got a great value for a couple of years. Be happy with that.
Caleb Jones: Move on
We only saw him for seven games before he was injured and then suspended. Over the past three years he has played 48 games in the NHL. He will be 30 when his next contract begins. Organizational depth at best. There are 25 Caleb Jones-type players available every offseason.
Jack St. Ivany: Move on, but consider keeping
I would be a little more open to keeping him as organizational depth than Jones just based on age alone. St. Ivany is still only 26 (well, 27 next season) and at least played a few more games in the NHL this season and was, at times, pretty solid. I wouldn’t want him playing a regular shift, but as a seventh defenseman or organizational depth he is fine.
