Joining the Pittsburgh Penguins represented different but fairly universal ideals to forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Ilya Solovyov.
For Dewar, he just wanted to find a role as an NHLer, while Soloyvov just wanted to play.
Each of them will be able to continue those pursuits with the Penguins after they agreed to contract extensions on Thursday.
Dewar, 26, signed a two-year extension with a salary cap hit of $2.25. He finished this season on a one-year contract worth $1.1 million.
Primarily stationed on left wing of an effective fourth line with Blake Lizotte at center and Noel Acciari on the right wing, Dewar appeared in 78 games and scored 30 points (14 goals, 30 assists) while averaging 13:55 of ice time per contest, including a team-best 2:41 while short-handed.
Connor Dewar makes no mistake on the shorthanded breakaway ???? pic.twitter.com/lBemur648x
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 19, 2026
During the postseason, Dewar (5-foot-10, 187 pounds) scored two goals in six games while clocking an average of 13:49 of ice time per contest.
While listed as a center, Dewar predominantly lined up at the left wing during the 2025-26 regular season, starting 56 games in that station. He also opened 14 contests at center and eight on the right wing.
A left-handed shot, Dewar has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Penguins after being acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 7, 2025.
Before joining the Penguins, Dewar had largely drifted between the Minnesota Wild and Maple Leafs for a handful of injury-riddled without much of a defined identity as an NHLer.
With the Penguins, he found himself.
“I came here and was given an opportunity to find a role,” Dewar said in February. “I’ve done that. It’s been a great spot for me.”
Solovyov, who turns 26 on July 20, agreed to a one-year extension worth $850,000. He finished this season in the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000, the league minimum.
The Penguins acquired Solovyov in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 20. Primarily relegated to the third pairing, Solovyov appeared in 14 games for the Penguins and recorded five assists while averaging 14:06 of ice time.
During the postseason, Solovyov (6-3, 208) appeared in three games and did not record a point while clocking an average of 7:10 of ice time per contest.
While left-handed, Solovyov is capable of playing both sides of the blue line. During the regular season, he opened 11 games on the left side and three on the right side. And all three of his postseason contests saw him start play on the right side.
The 2025-26 was a transitory one for Soloyov. A seventh-round selection (No. 205 overall) of the Calgary Flames in 2020, Solovyov was waived by the Flames on Oct. 2 and claimed by the Avalanche two days later.
Unable to regularly crack the lineup of the powerful Avalanche, Solovyov was dealt to the Penguins and found steadier work, including his first career postseason games.
“Maybe (the Penguins will) let me play more than I was (with other teams),” Solovyov said in February. “Maybe I’ll be a good (defenseman) for this team.”
Following these transactions, the Penguins have 17 remaining players who are scheduled to become unrestricted or restricted free agents on July 1:
Unrestricted
Forwards – Noel Acciari, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Kevin Hayes, Boko Imama, Joona Koppanen, Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha
Defensemen – Sebastian Aho, Connor Clifton, Ryan Shea
Goaltenders – Taylor Gauthier, Stuart Skinner
Restricted
Forwards – Egor Chinakhov, Ville Koivunen
Defenseman – Alexander Alexeyev
Goaltenders – Joel Blomqvist, Arturs Silovs
Note: Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Bill Zonnon signed an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) for the remainder of the season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. Zonnon was a first-round draft pick (No. 22 overall) of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025.