Report: Penguins aiming for multi-year deal with Letang

The Pittsburgh Penguins want Kris Letang back in the fold beyond next season.

Signing the talented defenseman to a multi-year contract is the club's top priority, reports The Athletic's Rob Rossi.

The Penguins' new owners, Fenway Sports Group, reportedly want to secure both Letang and fellow pending unrestricted free agent Evgeni Malkin for the duration of their careers, seeing their retention as a means to ensure Sidney Crosby retires as a member of the team as well.

Letang established career highs with 58 assists and 68 points this season. The 35-year-old has played his entire 16-year career with the Penguins, playing a pivotal role in two of their three Stanley Cup championships in that span.

The Penguins' management group has repeatedly expressed its desire to re-sign both Letang and Malkin. The two stars have also stated they'd like to stay. Crosby is under contract through 2024-25. The trio has been together for all of Letang's 16 seasons, the longest run by three teammates in NHL history.

In January, it was reported Letang was looking for a raise on his next contract. The Montreal-born rearguard will be coming off an eight-year deal carrying a cap hit of $7.25 million.

Pittsburgh has approximately $23 million in cap space. The club's other pending UFAs include trade-deadline acquisition Rickard Rakell, fellow forward Evan Rodrigues, and backup goaltender Casey DeSmith. Kasperi Kapanen and Danton Heinen are the team's pending RFAs.