​The schedule for hearings in elected arbitration cases has been released, with Nick Robertson’s hearing set for July 28. Negotiations between teams and players can still continue up to the start of the hearing, which means there is a real chance that Nick Robertson could secure a new contract before that date. In recent years, arbitration outcomes have often been resolved prior to hearings: last summer all 11 cases settled without proceeding to a hearing, and in 2024 every one of the 14 players who filed for arbitration reached a contract agreement before arbitration began. In 2023, three players—Philipp Kurashev, Ilya Samsonov, and Jeremy Swayman—went through the entire arbitration process, while the other 19 settled beforehand.
Nick Robertson filed for arbitration in 2025. Reports indicated he was seeking a $2.25 million salary for 2025-26, while the Toronto Maple Leafs countered with $1.2 million. The sides effectively bridged the gap and settled at $1.825 million. This agreement followed Robertson’s 2024-25 season, in which he posted 15 goals and 22 points over 69 games. The 2025-26 season saw Robertson reach a personal best in games played (78), along with 16 goals, 16 assists, and 32 points. While we don’t yet know his exact target for 2026-27, his previous summer figures suggest a likely ask in the $3-3.5 million range. It’s also unclear how Pittsburgh is approaching negotiations this time; the Penguins did issue Robertson a qualifying offer of $1.825 million and will presumably position their offers just above that figure as negotiations heat up.
The July 28 hearing date acts as an unofficial deadline and incentive for both sides to strike a deal, often accelerating an agreement. Based on current information, an educated estimate places Robertson’s eventual salary around $2.75 million. Both AFP Analytics and Evolving Hockey models project a two-year deal with an AAV just over $3 million, a structure that could appeal to both Robertson (increasing term) and the Penguins (a more predictable cap hit than a single-year deal). For the 2026-27 season, the Penguins’ cap situation shows about $87 million in committed player cap hits, with Evgeni Malkin’s potential bonus money factoring into the picture. That leaves roughly $17 million in available cap space. Robertson, along with minor leaguer Ville Koivunen, are the remaining restricted free agents Pittsburgh must address.
For better SEO, this update highlights the key elements: the arbitration hearing schedule, Nick Robertson’s negotiations and potential contract range, historical arbitration outcomes, the Penguins’ cap context, and the strategic implications of the July 28 deadline. This provides a comprehensive view of where things stand as negotiations continue toward a potential pre-hearing deal or an arbitration decision.