Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
The real reason Kyle Dubas extended Blake Lizotte, and it's not what many think
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Blake Lizotte is quietly turning Pittsburgh Penguins wins into a habit, and that new contract screams it.
On Monday, the Penguins re-signed Lizotte for three years at a $2.25 million cap hit.
Pittsburgh is 24-9-8 when Lizotte dresses, a 112-point pace that jumps off the screen.
It is not about points. It is about order, pace, and getting the puck back fast.
Lizotte's 2025-26 line is 5-5-10 in 35 games, but the penalty kill usage tells the real story.
He leads Penguins forwards at 2:32 shorthanded per night, and the unit has been far steadier with him available.
Lizotte is 28, and he came in the hard way as an undrafted free agent who originally signed with the Los Angeles Kings.
That background matters, because his game still looks like someone trying to keep his spot.
The cap hit is not flashy. It is the kind of deal that keeps your bottom-six identity intact.
Blake Lizotte gives the Pittsburgh Penguins a pulse
Penguins fans have spent years begging for a fourth line that is not a nightly adventure.
Lizotte wins races on dump-ins and forces rushed clears, so the next shift starts in the right end.
When he is healthy, the bench looks calmer, and the matchups get easier for everyone above him.
Even the faceoffs and wall battles feel like they tilt back toward 50-50 instead of panic.
And when he missed time in December, the team's results dipped fast, which tracks with the eye test.
Now it is on Pittsburgh to keep him between the dots, keep him killing penalties, and let the rest of the lineup breathe.
If this pace holds, the next game is not about surviving shifts, it is about stacking points again.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Kyle Dubas' Penguins plan just got flipped by a new insider report
Kyle Dubas' Penguins plan just got flipped by a new insider report
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 23|170 ANSWERS The real reason Kyle Dubas extended Blake Lizotte, and it's not what many think Should the Penguins have re-signed Blake Lizotte long-term? | ||
| Yes | 149 | 87.6 % |
| No | 21 | 12.4 % |
| List of polls | ||