"I'm hoping to have something done real soon here, but we've got a few details we're working through," Hextall said. "So, we'll see where it goes."
Letang can become an unrestricted free agent July 13 after he finished an eight-year, $58 million contract ($7.25 million average annual value) he signed July 2, 2013. The 35-year-old defenseman had an NHL career-high 68 points (10 goals, 58 assists) in 78 games this season. In 16 seasons, all with the Penguins, Letang has 650 points (144 goals, 506 assists) in 941 games and has helped them win the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017).
The 2022 draft will be held July 7-8 at Bell Centre. The first round will be Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS), and rounds 2-7 are Friday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS). When Hextall was asked if an agreement with Letang could be reached before he and his staff return to Pittsburgh, he said, "I hope so."
But Hextall said he wasn't as confident about re-signing center Evgeni Malkin, who can also become a UFA on July 13. Malkin, who turns 36 on July 31, completed an eight-year, $76 million contract ($9.5 million AAV) he signed June 13, 2013.
"We're still working," Hextall said. "We spoke to them as recently as [Tuesday] night and we'll see where it goes."
Malkin also was part of Pittsburgh's past three Cup championships. Despite missing the first three months of this season recovering from knee surgery in June 2021, Malkin had 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists) in 41 games. In 16 NHL seasons, his 1,146 points (444 goals, 702 assists) are third on the Penguins' all-time scoring list, behind Mario Lemieux (1,723) and Sidney Crosby (1,409). Malkin is 19 games from 1,000 in the NHL (981).
Hextall said one player wasn't being prioritized ahead of the other. He called re-signing Letang and Malkin, "Our two biggest priorities ... and they still are."
"I'd be surprised that we don't get Kris done," Hextall said. "'Geno,' we're still working on it. So, they're at a different stage right now."
Letang said after the season his goal was to play another 4-5 seasons, hopefully with the Penguins, who lost to the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference First Round in seven games.
"It's always been the main goal, to stay here and play in Pittsburgh," he said. "I certainly tried to build something good here. Just want to keep it going."
Malkin also expressed hope that he could stay with the Penguins.
"I understand it's a business," he said. "I love this city. I love these fans so much. If the team wants new blood, young guys, and say to me, 'You should move on,' I'm fine. … I hope I stay here forever, like retire here."
