Penguins Sign A Top NCAA Free Agent, Offensive Defenseman

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jake Livenavage

The Pittsburgh Penguins have added to their burgeoning young talent pool, with the signing of a top NCAA free agent, offensive defenseman Jake Livanavage.

The Penguins have signed NCAA free agent defenseman Jake Livanavage to a two-year, Entry-Level Contract.

Details: https://t.co/yi0lSHXYCp pic.twitter.com/hEZyzSqeaA
— x - Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 10, 2026

It's a two-year entry-level deal for the 21-year-old. The contract begins immediately, and he'll report to Pittsburgh. He could make his NHL debut before the season is out.

The University of North Dakota was just eliminated from the NCAA Frozen Four in an upset loss to Wisconsin, ending Livanavage's excellent three years at UND.

Jake Livanavage is a great NCAA signing. Didn't get drafted due to size, and size hasn't mattered once since then. Skates super well, activates like crazy in the OZ, and loves to carry the mail. Put up at least 25 points every single year he was at North Dakota.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) April 10, 2026

Livanavage, a 5'10" left-shot defenseman, is an excellent skater, a strong puck-mover and distributor with an impressive awareness of the entire ice, while creating offense with ease. He posted five goals and 20 assists for 25 points in 39 regular-season games, and had a plus/minus rating of +15. In 117 games with North Dakota over his three seasons, he recorded 14 goals and 68 assists for 82 points with a +20 rating.

Watch him navigate the full length of the ice and set up a game-winning goal with seconds to play.

Here’s the video of Sacha Boisvert’s (#9) GWG with 23 seconds left #Blackhawks #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/FzdWpXPU7B
— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) December 7, 2024

The Arizona-born d-man will get to learn from the best in the Penguins organization, with the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang to look up to. Those three have spent the last 20 seasons together in Pittsburgh, and have three Stanley Cups to show for it.

The Penguins clinched their spot in the 2026 Playoffs Thursday night, after a three-year absence from the dance. They're pretty much locked in to second place in the Metro Division, 10 points back of Carolina, and six points up on Philadelphia, with three games to play. Seems like a perfect time for Livanavage to get his feet wet at the NHL level.