The Pittsburgh Penguins signed restricted free agent defenseman Justin Schultz to a three-year, $16.5 million contract, the team announced on Saturday.
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed restricted free agent defenseman Justin Schultz to a three-year, $16.5 million contract, the team announced on Saturday.
The contract has an average annual value of $5.5 million and runs through the 2019-20 season.
Schultz recorded career highs in goals (12) , assists (39) , points (51) , plus-minus (plus-27) and power-play points (20) in 78 games last season with the Penguins. The 26-year-old is coming off a one-year, $1.4 million deal.
« Justin plays a very important role for our team, » general manager Jim Rutherford said. « It’s very good to know that he will be returning to us for the next three years. »
Schultz has collected 41 goals and 119 assists in 344 career NHL games since being selected with a second-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2008 draft. He was unable to agree to a contract with the Ducks and later signed with Edmonton and spent four seasons with the Oilers.
Schultz was ultimately dealt to the Penguins at the trade deadline for a 2016 third-round pick.
