The Penguins re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Marcus Pettersson to a one-year contract worth $874,125.
Pettersson, 23, was acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks in December. He appeared in 84 games combined with each team and set a career-high with 25 points (two goals, 23 assists).
Coming off the final year of his entry-level contract, Pettersson’s previous average annual value was $894,167 according to CapFriendly. He is scheduled to remain a restricted free agent when the contract expires next offseason.
“Marcus is a smart, reliable defenseman who improved our defensive corps after coming over from Anaheim last year,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a release. “We are fortunate to have a good, young defenseman of his caliber in our top six.”
With Pettersson’s new contract, the Penguins are projected to be about $300,000 over the NHL’s salary cap of $81.5 million. (Team are permitted to exceed the salary cap by 10 percent prior to the official start of the regular season.) Presumably, this deal will serve as a “bridge” contract which could lead to a more lucrative, longer-term deal.
A native of Skelleftea, Sweden, Pettersson is one of the team’s tallest players at 6-foot-3 and was routinely teamed with 6-5 defenseman Erik Gudbranson on a third defensive pairing after Gudbranson was acquired at the trade deadline last season. They logged 269:10 of common five-on-five ice time during the regular season according to Natural Stat Trick. Pettersson’s most common defensive partner last season was Jack Johnson (376:54).
The Penguins open training camp in Cranberry on Friday.
