Penguins reach deal with Hendrix Lapierre, agreeing to a two-year contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Hendrix Lapierre to a two-year contract, completing the next step of their offseason work after reaching an agreement with the restricted free agent. The deal carries an average annual value of $1.3 million, according to the team announcement carried by Yahoo Sports.

The signing represents Pittsburgh’s first restricted free agent agreement of the offseason, and it helps the Penguins lock in a forward for the middle of their roster construction. While the Penguins will still shape their lineup through the rest of free agency and any additional internal evaluation, adding Lapierre on a defined two-year term reduces uncertainty in the forward depth picture.

Multiple reports tied to the announcement framed Lapierre as a recent trade acquisition, which is relevant to how quickly a team needs to integrate a player into its systems. For teams, the restricted free agent window can affect planning because negotiations must run through a specific offseason timeline, and an agreement also clarifies how much payroll flexibility remains for other priorities.

The contract also provides a predictable cap figure for Pittsburgh. Reporting associated with the team’s release indicated the $1.3 million figure as the annual cap hit, which is a key element for front offices managing the balance between long-term commitments and near-term roster needs.

Lapierre’s role with the Penguins going forward will likely be shaped by training camp and the team’s depth chart, particularly how Pittsburgh wants to distribute playing time among young forwards and higher-leverage lines. A two-year contract can be both a development runway and a roster-planning tool, giving coaches multiple seasons to evaluate fit, pace, and matchup usage.

For Penguins fans, the practical next step is to watch how Lapierre is slotted in camp, including which line he practices with and what special teams opportunities, if any, he gets early. The signing also sets context for what Pittsburgh may do next, since teams typically use confirmed restricted free agent deals to refine the remaining needs before the season opener.

As the offseason continues, Pittsburgh’s attention will turn to whether it can complement this forward group with additional pieces at other positions of need. For now, the Lapierre agreement is a concrete, measurable move: it keeps a young forward under control for two years at a known cap value as the Penguins continue building toward the next playoff push.