Penguins re-sign two free agents, Connor Dewar and Ilya Solovyov

The Penguins announced on Thursday morning that they have re-signed two of their pending unrestricted free agents ahead of the 2026-27 season. 

First, the team announced the re-signing of forward Connor Dewar to a two-year, $2.25 million per year contract, which runs through the 2027-28 season. 

The 26-year-old had a career year with the Penguins in 2025-26, scoring 14 goals, 16 assists, for 30 points. 

Dewar was acquired by the Penguins near the end of the 2024-25 season in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Penguins sent a 2025 fifth-round draft pick to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Dewar and defenseman Conor Timmins. Timmins appeared in 17 games with the Penguins in the 2024-25 season, scoring one goal and six assists for seven points. 

He was dealt to Buffalo during the 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for defenseman Connor Clifton and a 2025 second-round pick. 

The Penguins also re-signed defenseman Ilya Solovyov to a one-year, $850,000 deal that runs through the 2026-27 season. 

Solovyov was acquired by the Penguins on January 20, 2026, from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Valterri Puustinen and a 2026 seventh-round pick. 

He appeared in 14 games for the Penguins, recording just five assists. In total, he played 30 NHL games this past season, split between the Penguins and Avalanche, scoring one goal, seven assists, and eight points. He also played in three games for the Penguins in their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

The Penguins now have six NHL regulars as unrestricted free agents, including forwards Evgeni Malkin, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, and Noel Acciari. On defense, Connor Clifton and Ryan Shea remain unrestricted free agents, and in goal, Stuart Skinner is still unsigned.