The 4 Nations Face-Off has delivered in every way imaginable. The most talented players in the game have been on display for the past week, including Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby.
For the Penguins captain, this tournament was his first chance to play alongside Canada’s next generation of stars like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mitch Marner. While McDavid and MacKinnon are locked into their respective teams, Marner’s future remains a question.
The 27-year-old winger is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. While the Toronto Maple Leafs and Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, have discussed an extension, nothing appears imminent.
According to TSN Insider Pierre LeBrun, Marner’s desired salary could become a sticking point. “It really comes down to this: I don’t think the Leafs feel they can or will pay more than $13 million, maybe $12.5,” LeBrun said on TSN 1050 Overdrive last month. “I think that’s the clear line of demarcation.”
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If Marner shakes lose and enters the free agent market, the Penguins should be among the first to call.
General manager Kyle Dubas has referenced the New York Rangers turnaround on multiple occasions as somewhat of a blueprint for what he wants to achieve in Pittsburgh.
Shortly after beginning their rebuild, the Rangers signed superstar Artemi Panarin in free agency, making him the second-highest-paid player in the NHL. Doing the same with Marner would represent a similar eagerness to contend by Dubas.
Marner will be the same age Panarin was when he joined the Rangers, but comes with five more years of NHL experience and likely over 400 more points than Panarin when he signed in New York.
The Penguins are expected to have around $24 million in salary cap space this summer, which makes meeting Marner’s salary demands possible. They have 16 players on the active roster already signed for next season, including nine forwards, five defensemen, and two goalies. They’ll also have a handful of AHL prospects ready to push for roster spots next season (Owen Pickering, Ville Koivunen, etc.) while still being on their entry-level contracts.
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Mikko Rantanen is the only pending free agent, outside of Marner, with the pedigree to expedite the Penguins’ rebuild. But Rantanen doesn’t have the pre-existing relationship with Dubas and Crosby that Marner has.
This Penguins roster, as currently constructed, is far from being a contender. Adding Marner would go a long way to getting the team trending toward contention, especially before Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s careers end.
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Forgotten frontier: How Pittsburgh shaped America’s July 4th
We take you inside Fort Pitt Museum’s “Pittsburgh’s Revolution” exhibit to show how a frontier fort became a key in America’s path to independence.
Pittsburgh’s Fourth of July traditions are rooted in centuries of American history, and Fort Pitt Museum sits at the heart of that story.
Located in Point State Park at the confluence of the city’s three rivers, the museum traces western Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the early expansion of the United States.
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An exhibit you don’t want to miss
Inside, the “Pittsburgh’s Revolution” exhibit spotlights how this frontier outpost helped shape the Revolutionary War and the push for independence. Rare artifacts, detailed maps and personal stories walk visitors through a time when control of Fort Pitt meant control of the West, giving colonists a crucial foothold in the struggle against British rule. The exhibit also emphasizes the diverse communities at the Point, including soldiers, Indigenous nations, traders and settlers, whose lives intersected in ways that still echo in Pittsburgh’s identity today.
For modern visitors, the museum offers an immersive experience that connects familiar July 4 images with the realities of life on the 18th‑century frontier. Families can explore galleries that explain how supplies moved through Pittsburgh to support the Continental Army, how diplomacy unfolded with Native nations, and how everyday people navigated a world in conflict. It turns Independence Day from a single date on the calendar into an ongoing story that started along these rivers and radiated outward.
As America marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Fort Pitt’s “Fourth at the Fort” programming brings that history into the present with flag ceremonies, living history encampments and hands‑on activities in Point State Park.
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For Pittsburghers looking to go beyond fireworks, a visit to Fort Pitt Museum offers a reminder that Independence Day here is not only about celebration, but about standing on the ground where American history was made.
This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
Pittsburgh officials are partnering with a nonprofit to provide a unique way to thank veterans for their service while getting a grand look at the Steel City.
A 90-foot Ferris wheel dubbed the Salute to Service Wheel will be spinning on the North Shore from Wednesday through Sunday.
It’s provided by Piatt Companies and Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty with half of ticket sale proceeds going to Veterans Leadership Program.
First launched in 1982, VLP helps veterans navigate life’s transitions. Efforts include wellness services, housing, career development and various support programs.
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Mayor Corey O’Connor, parks and recreation director Eric Sloan, Piatt Companies CEO Lucas Piatt and representatives from the Veterans Leadership Program are expected to host a grand opening celebration Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. at North Shore Drive and Art Rooney Avenue and take the first rides.
It is part of Pittsburgh’s Independence Day celebration.
Tickets are on sale now and cost $11.20, including a $1.20 service fee. They can be found at pittsburghpa.gov.
Bookings are in hour intervals from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday and from 2-8 p.m. Sunday.
Riders smaller than 48 inches tall must be accompanied by an adult.
