Penguins announce trio of contract extensions

The Pittsburgh Penguins already took care of one matter of offseason business, re-signing 203rd overall (Round 7) 2019 Draft pick Valtteri Puustinen to a two-year deal. 

And now, GM Kyle Dubas has continued his offseason work with a trio of new extensions. Defenseman Filip Kral has been inked to a one-year deal that carries an AAV of $775,000, while forward Jonathan Gruden has been extended to a two-year contract with an AAV of $775,000. 

Additionally, defenseman Jack St. Ivany has been signed to a three-year contract that also carries an AAV of $775,000. 

Per the press releases on the Penguins official website: 

"Kral, 24, spent the 2023-24 season with the Lahti Pelicans of Liiga, Finland’s top professional league. The defenseman recorded five goals, 32 assists and 37 points in 46 games, leading all team defensemen in assists and points. His assist and point totals also ranked third and fourth among all Pelicans players, respectively. Kral’s plus-28 on the season was the best in the league, winning Liiga’s Matti Keinonen Trophy.

The 6-foot-2, 198-pound defenseman played parts of three seasons in the Toronto organization from 2020-23, primarily with the Marlies of the American Hockey League. In 92 career AHL games, Kral has recorded seven goals, 22 assists and 29 points. He has skated in two career NHL games with Toronto, making his NHL debut on October 29, 2022.

Prior to making his North American professional debut, Kral played three seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Spokane Chiefs from 2017-20. In 154 career WHL games, the defenseman tallied 31 goals, 89 assists and 120 points with a plus-44." 

"Gruden, 24, split the 2023-24 season between the Penguins and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. The forward skated in 13 games with Pittsburgh, scoring his first NHL goal on March 2 against the Calgary Flames. As an alternate captain with the WBS Penguins, Gruden tallied 13 goals, 11 assists and 24 points in 47 games.

The 6-foot, 172-pound forward has skated in four professional seasons in the Penguins organization between 2020-24. In 208 career AHL games, Gruden has compiled 45 goals, 51 assists and 96 points and added three points (1G-2A) in seven playoff games. He has appeared in 16 career NHL games with Pittsburgh over the past two seasons."

"St. Ivany, 24, played the majority of the 2023-24 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, totaling 15 points (4G-11A) in 54 games. He made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh against Dallas on March 22 and appeared in 14 games with the Penguins, recording one assist.

The 6-foot-3, 198-pound defenseman has appeared in 117 career AHL games with the WBS Penguins over two professional seasons, totaling 23 points (4G-19A). St. Ivany also appeared in two playoff games with WBS this season."

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