Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall could sign defenseman Kristopher Letang to a new contract by the end of the entry draft, he told media on Wednesday.

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He has completed an eight-year, $58 million pact, and will be eligible for free agency on July 13 if he hasn't signed a deal by then.

The 35-year-old has been linked to some teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, in recent rumors, except the 'Pens' seem intent on keeping him with them in 2022-23.

Moreover, Hextall would like to take out the checkbook before the club representatives return to Pittsburgh this weekend.

“I hope we will have something real completed soon, but we have to work out details. So we'll see where it takes us,” the GM said, as reported by NHL.com.

Letang won three Stanley Cups with the team in 2009, 2016 and 2017. Last regular season, he had 10 goals and 58 assists for 68 points in 78 games.

However, his team could not make it past the first round of the playoffs, packing up in seven duels against the New York Rangers.

Married Malkin

In addition, regarding the Evgeni Malkin case, Hextall also mentioned that his organization is hard at work. The Russian striker could become free as air in less than a week.

He finished an eight-year, $76 million contract and, having missed the first three months of last season following knee surgery, he had 42 points, including 20 goals, in 41 outings.

“We are still working. We spoke with them as recently as Tuesday and we will see the rest, ”said the DG.