The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Blake Lizotte to a three-year extension with a salary cap hit of $2.25 million on Monday.

This contract will begin with the 2026-27 season.

Lizotte, 28, joined the Penguins as an unrestricted free agent during the 2024 offseason, signing a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $1.85 million.

Typically stationed as center of the fourth line and on the penalty kill, Lizotte has appeared in 35 games this season and scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) while averaging 13 minutes, 57 seconds of ice time. He leads the team’s forwards with an average of 2:32 in short-handed ice time this season.

In the faceoff dot, Lizotte has won 163 of the 317 draws he has taken (51.4%).

Before signing this extension, Lizotte, a left-handed shot, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the season.

In October, Lizotte was asked if he had any thoughts on his future with the team.

“Not really,” Lizotte said. “I’m a one-day-at-a-time kind of guy. I believe that God has a plan in it all. I trust him and where he ends up moving us or staying here or whatever it might be. I don’t think too much ahead. I just take one day at a time.”

Jones to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) for conditioning purposes Monday.

Jones is designated to injured reserve because of a suspected left foot injury that has sidelined him since Oct. 23.

Following practice Friday in Cranberry, Jones suggested he was close to potentially returning to play.

“Next weekend would be the target that I probably feel good enough to play,” Jones said. “It’s kind of all up to me and when I feel like I’d be strong enough and I can get some practices in with some contact and kind of go through the steps that way.”

Before his injury, Jones was a regular part of the Penguins’ lineup. Primarily stationed on the left side of the third pairing, Jones appeared in seven of the team’s first eight games and posted one assist while averaging 17:10 of ice time per contest.

Per NHL rules, conditioning loans can last no longer than 14 days.

Skating coach hired

The Penguins hired Jonathan Garcia as an assistant skating coach. He will work with players with Wheeling of the ECHL as well as prospects at the NCAA and junior levels.

Garcia, 39, represented the United States in the 2014 and 2018 Olympics as a speedskater, competing in long track events.

Note: The Penguins had a scheduled day off on Monday.