Overview
- The Penguins announced on Friday, July 31, 2026, that Novak signed a three-year extension worth $13.95 million total with a $4.65 million average annual value that takes effect in the 2027-28 season and runs through 2029-30.
- Novak, 29, was the only Penguin to play all 82 regular-season games in 2025-26 and finished that season with 16 goals and 42 points, adding two assists in six playoff games.
- Pittsburgh acquired Novak from Nashville in March 2025 in the trade that sent Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Predators, and the extension keeps a player who can play center or wing in the lineup.
- Analysts widely called the contract fair value given the rising salary cap, saying the deal secures dependable depth without a long-term commitment, though some observers note it does not solve the club’s need for a true long-term top center.
- The signing fits GM Kyle Dubas’s short-term, depth-focused approach as the Pens manage an aging core and try to remain competitive while younger players phase into larger roles.