The Penguins made a signing on Monday, extending the contract of center Blake Lizotte for three seasons.
From the team:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Blake Lizotte to a three-year contract extension, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.
Lizotte is signed through
the 2028-29 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $2.25 million.
Lizotte, 28, is in his seventh NHL season, and second with Pittsburgh, and has tallied five goals, five assists and 10 points in 35 games this year. Lizotte leads all Penguins forwards with 2:32 minutes of shorthanded time on ice per game this season, helping the team to the seventh-best penalty kill in the league, including an 85.6% success rate with him in the lineup. This season, the Penguins have earned points in 26 of the 35 games that Lizotte has dressed in, going 20-9-6.
Since the beginning of his tenure with Pittsburgh, the 5-foot-9, 176-pound Lizotte ranks fifth on the team in goals (16) and eighth in points (30). Last season, he tied his career-high goal total with 11 tallies in 59 games played, originally set in 2022-23 with Los Angeles in 81 games.
Through 414 career NHL games with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, Lizotte has recorded 53 goals, 83 assists and 136 points. The forward has also skated in 15 career playoff games with the Kings, tallying two points (1G-1A).
Prior to turning professional, the Lindstrom, Minnesota native played two seasons at St. Cloud State University from 2017-19 and recorded 69 points (22G-47A) in 76 career collegiate games.
Lizotte has been a key member of the fourth line, a role he has been in since the start of the 2024-25 season when signed as a free agent. The current contract provides a modest boost off his current $1.85 million cap hit, which will be easily absorbed in the coming years of expected NHL salary cap increases. The good news for Lizotte is securing a three year commitment for his services after pulling in a two-year deal in free agency in 2024.
Lizotte leads Pittsburgh forwards by averaging 2:40 shorthanded per game as a key cog in the penalty kill. He’s won 51.4% of his faceoffs and his offensive contributions and high-energy play are always welcome sights for the Pens, so they elected to lock him up for the future where he should be a staple on that fourth line that can handle a heavy dose of defensive zone starts and still be able to tip the ice back in Pittsburgh’s favor.
