Penguins lock in forward Tommy Novak with a three-year extension starting 2027-28

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they have signed forward Tommy Novak to a three-year contract extension, a deal that begins during the 2027-28 season. According to the report, the contract carries an average annual value of $4.65 million, giving the Penguins additional runway to plan their forward group around a player they consider a steady option.

Contract extensions in the NHL are often about more than simply keeping a current contributor under club control. They can stabilize team-building decisions by reducing uncertainty in the forward lines when younger players are transitioning into larger roles, while also shaping how a team approaches future free agency and internal promotions.

For Pittsburgh, the timing matters. With the agreement set to start in 2027-28 rather than immediately, the extension functions as a forward-looking piece of roster management, one that can be used to balance near-term needs with longer-term planning. That structure also suggests the club believes Novak will remain part of its plans once the 2027-28 season arrives.

Novak is described in the report as a veteran forward, which frames his value in terms of experience and day-to-day dependability. In many Penguins-like builds, that kind of profile is useful for maintaining structure across a season, especially in matchups where coaching staffs want players who can hold their positions, execute tactical assignments, and contribute in a variety of roles.

The average annual value of $4.65 million provides a concrete figure for fans following Pittsburgh’s cap posture over the next few years. Without further reported details, it is not possible to say how the extension affects other specific roster decisions, but the AAV does report what the club is willing to allocate to keep Novak in Pittsburgh’s plans for the life of the deal.

What to watch next is how the Penguins use the extension as they finalize their longer-range depth chart. Even though this contract starts in 2027-28, teams often make complementary moves in the same window, either by adding specialists, securing other key roles, or preparing younger forwards for bigger minutes. For Novak, the extension sets a clear path: he is expected to remain a Penguin as Pittsburgh moves through the 2027-30 stretch.