Apr 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak (18) passes the puck against Philadelphia Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (71) in the third period in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images In a somewhat surprising move Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins locked down forward Tommy Novak for three more seasons.
The team announced they signed Novak to a three-year contract that begins in 2027-28 and is worth $4.65 million annually. Novak, 29, would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer. Last season, Novak netted16 goals with 26 assists and 42 points while playing in 82 games.
He started slow, and his lineup position was unsettled until a mid-season injury to Evgeni Malkin and subsequent shift to center gave Novak solid footing as a second-line center. He averaged 14:17 of ice time per game and was a part of the team’s second power play unit. It was Novak’s fifth NHL season, as he played most of his first four years with the Nashville Predators before being acquired near the 2025 NHL trade deadline in a deal that sent Michael Bunting to Nashville.
Noval also represented Team USA at the 2026 World Championship, recording a team-high seven assists and eight points in eight games. Analysis The move highlights the Penguins’ organization’s high opinion of Novak, who is defensively responsible and reliable in the middle. Coach Dan Muse was quick to defend and praise Novak after his slow start, citing his defensive work and away-from-the-puck play.
However, Novak’s lack of physical play became notable later in the regular season and playoffs, and Muse began to shift him around the lineup, just as he did in October and November. The new contract appears to settle the middle of the Penguins’ lineup for the next few years with Sidney Crosby, Novak, Ben Kindel, and Blake Lizotte under contract or, in Crosby’s case, presumably so.
Last season, Novak won only 42.9% of his faceoffs and hasn’t scored more than 45 points in a season. His limited offensive output also allows for Kindel to ascend in the Penguins’ lineup as the 19-year-old warrants, and it’s also a sign that the Penguins don’t foresee any prospects rising to claim a role in the middle in the next couple of seasons.