What happened: Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the settlement, which lands two weeks ahead of the restricted free agent's scheduled July 28 salary arbitration hearing. Pittsburgh originally landed the 24-year-old forward when the Maple Leafs traded Nick Robertson on July 1 following a campaign where he earned $1.825 million. Upon expiration of this contract, the Pasadena, California native will remain under team control for one final year of restricted free agency before reaching unrestricted eligibility.

Why it matters: The agreement locks in cost-controlled middle-six scoring and energy for Pittsburgh without risking an arbitration award that could have constrained the club's offseason salary cap flexibility. Reuniting with former Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas gives Robertson a fresh opportunity under a new coaching staff after early stints in Canada were interrupted by injuries and a crowded forward depth chart. The move also cleared a roster spot and cap space for the Maple Leafs while allowing the Penguins to inject youth into their forward group.

What to watch: Robertson will join Pittsburgh's training camp in the fall to integrate into a retooled forward group under the club's coaching staff. Meanwhile, Penguins management continues evaluating the offseason trade market for additional roster flexibility ahead of the 2026-27 season.