Penguins sign former Capitals defenseman Alex Alexeyev

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Alex Alexeyev to a one-year contract worth $775,000.

His addition to the roster was reflected on the NHL’s media website while Puckpedia reported contractual information. He is scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the deal.

A first-round draft pick (No.31 overall) of the Washington Capitals in 2018, the 25-year-old Alexeyev has spent the bulk of his first six professional seasons with that organization.

This past season, the left-handed Alexeyev (6-foot-4, 229 pounds) appeared in only eight regular season games at the NHL level and did not record a point while averaging 16:04 of ice time per contest.

Due to concerns about potentially losing him on waivers, the Capitals kept him on the NHL roster for the bulk of the season and made him a healthy scratch for a total of 71 contests, excluding three games he was unavailable during a conditioning assignment with Hershey of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Oddly, Alexeyev actually played more postseason games this past spring (10) than during the regular season. In those 10 contests, he did not tabulate a point while averaging 10:25 of ice time.

A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Alexeyev just completed a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $825,000. He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent on Monday, but the Capitals declined to extend a qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

Over parts of four NHL seasons, Alexeyev has played in 80 regular season games and has four points (one goal, seven assists).

Left shoulder surgery in June of 2022 required several months of recovery and cost him portions of the 2022-23 season.

On May 17, Alexeyev was arrested on a charge of public intoxication in Clarendon, Va. According to the Washington Post, police utilized pepper spray in making the arrest.

Citing Arlington (Va.) General District Court records, Washington journalist Sammi Silber reported Alexeyev received a $91 fine June 11 in a deferred disposition over the charge.