The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed restricted free agent forward Teddy Blueger to a two-year contract worth $2.2 million per season, the team announced Wednesday.

Blueger posted a career-best 0.51 points per game last campaign while averaging nearly 15 minutes across 43 contests. However, the 26-year-old is valued more for his defensive prowess.

"Teddy has proven to be a versatile, two-way center, as well as a fixture on the penalty kill," said general manager Ron Hextall. "He is a valuable player for our team."

Blueger was the Penguins' second-round pick in 2012, and he's appeared in 140 games with Pittsburgh since.

Although he's earned a new deal, the Penguins will likely expose Blueger in the upcoming expansion draft due to the team having a surplus of high-quality forwards ahead of him on its depth chart.

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