The Penguins re-signed restricted free agent forward Jonathan Gruden to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a salary cap hit of $775,000.
Gruden, 23, just completed an entry-level contract.
During the 2022-23 season, Gruden (6-foot-2, 172 pounds) made his NHL debut in January, appearing in three games with no points while averaging 5:20 of ice time per contest.
Primarily stationed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season, the left-handed center played in 54 American Hockey League contests and scored 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists).
The Penguins acquired Gruden in October of 2020 through a trade that sent former starting goaltender Matt Murray to the Ottawa Senators.
With Gruden under contract, the Penguins have remaining unsigned restricted free agents in forwards Filip Hallander, Drew O’Connor, defenseman Ty Smith and goaltender Filip Lindberg.
Hallander and Lindberg each signed with teams in Europe earlier this offseason and are not expected to be re-signed. The Penguins simply extended qualifying offers to them to formally retain their NHL rights.
