AFP Analytics released their annual 2026 off-season contract projections for pending UFA's and RFA's and for the Penguins section see's some interesting contracts that could be handed out by either the team or another team.
AFP always is deep into the NHL in the off-season with contracts and putting all of the math together for players and giving fans an idea of what certain players may receive or somewhere in the ballpark
Evgeni Malkin was projected at a cap hit value of $6,827,000 and signed for $5,500,000 at real cap hit value which was very much technically a bargain in terms of AFP's projection for Malkin.
Here are some of the projections for the Pittsburgh Penguins pending free agents.
- Noel Acciari - Projected two year contract with a projected cap hit of $2,185,733.37.
- Connor Clifton - Two years at $1,839,809.50 AAV.
- Anthony Mantha - Four years at $6.3 million cap hit.
- Ryan Shea - Four years at $4.3 million cap hit.
- Arturs Silovs - One year at $1.8 million cap hit. He also will be arbitration eligible.
- Stuart Skinner - Four years at $4.39 million cap hit.
- Egor Chinakhov - Four years at $5.5 million per year cap hit. He is also arbitration eligible.
- Ville Koivunen - Two years at $1.28 million per year cap hit and is not arbitration eligible.
Players like Shea, Mantha and Skinner create a problem which is that term and money just doesn't make sense in terms of where the team currently is, what the long-term outlook looks like for these Pittsburgh Penguins who finally could be back in the playoff picture.
Skinner wants a term contract and with the rise of Sergei Murashov makes his tenure with the Penguins a very short one.
Ryan Shea after a solidifying season may have priced himself out of Pittsburgh, with the acquisition of Jake Livanavage allows for him to take a full time spot in training camp.
Anthony Mantha after going quiet in the playoffs and having a career year will be paid massively by a team who will gladly welcome his services. A reunion seems unlikely.
In terms of players like Chinakhov, Silovs and Koivunen they are mainly on the end of getting bridge or long terms extensions that will keep them a Pittsburgh Penguin for the forseeable future which looks just about right.
Egor Chinakhov should be at the top of priority list and with the cap going up in 2027-28 even more, any contract with a cap hit below six million is a ultimate steal if he can replicate success.
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