Insider: Penguins Holding Off on Marcus Pettersson Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins are at a crossroads this season. Again.

It's unclear whether or not the team will be true playoff contenders either this year or into the future, and with that, it's left GM Kyle Dubas holding off on any further extension talks after getting his captain and franchise icon Sidney Crosby locked up just before the season began.

Chief among the other players who were thought to be in line for a new deal is defenseman Marcus Pettersson, who has been a top-four fixture on the Penguins blueline for the past several years. The 28-year-old is a pending UFA, as he's in the final season of a five-year, $4.025 million AAV deal.

Insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, however, reports that there is nothing imminent on the Pettersson front at this time.

The belief was that after Sidney Crosby got locked in, that the Penguins would reach out to Pettersson's camp about an extension and at least get the ball rolling there. (But) My understanding is that hasn't happened.
There haven't been any significant negotiations, or talks, quite frankly, between the Penguins and Pettersson's side. It sounds like the Penguins want to see exactly who they are this season. It doesn't mean they don't want to sign him, it means they're doing their due diligence to see exactly what direction this team is going to go, and then make decisions with respect to the immediate and the future of this club.

Pagnotta figures any discussions won't take place until at least the new year.

Pettersson is certainly due for a raise. Last season, he recorded career-highs across the board, with four goals and 26 assists for 30 points, along with a plus/minus rating of +28. He logged a heavy 22:40 of ice time per game, and handed out 121 hits while recording 159 blocked shots (also a career high). He has been a plus-rating in each and every year of his previous seven seasons.