Connor Dewar should be next in line for an extension following Lizotte signing

Connor Dewar, who was brought back on a one year deal (RFA) following a trade deadline deal last season that brought himself and Conor Timmins to the Penguins for a mere late round draft pick to help the Maple Leafs dump cap space to bring in Brandon Carlo.

Dewar, 26, is in his seventh NHL season and his first full season with the Penguins, has eight goals, eight assists and 16 points in 45 games this year so far. He also second in the entire forward core in 2:23 minutes of PK time on ice per game so far this season.

Dewar's fellow fourth linemate Blake Lizotte just signed a three-year extension at a $2.25 million-dollar AAV that will keep him signed with the Penguins through the 2028-2029 season is now locked in on a good bridge deal.

Dewar in the off-season more than likely will be looking for more term and term security along with a raise in AAV as he is on a $1.1 million AAV contract. He could be looking for a Blake Lizotte type deal within the two or three year window of just under or close to $2.0 million dollars AAV. Makes sense for how Dewar has been performing so far this season but time will tell.

His line-mates Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari have been key reasons as to the fourth line success and the chemistry the three players have on a game by game basis. Dewar is a key depth anchor and a rock of that line and he brings his game, and speed that drives the team and his line to be that energy fourth line that good hockey teams need.

Signing Lizotte to a multi year extension signals that Kyle Dubas believes in the future of the some of the key guys he currently has on his roster and raises the question if it's a matter of when not if Connor Dewar could be up next for an extension with the team.

The real question obviously will be when will Kyle Dubas pull the trigger and attempt to lock up another fourth line glue guy that will keep that fourth line in tact?