Penguins re-sign Juuso Riikola to 2-year deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins inked defenseman Juuso Riikola to a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $1.15 million, the club announced Saturday.

Riikola, previously a pending restricted free agent, receives a slight salary increase compared to the $850,000 he's earning this season.

The 26-year-old has played his two NHL campaigns with Pittsburgh, serving primarily as a depth defender. He signed with the Penguins in May 2018 after suiting up for parts of six seasons in his native Finland.

Even after signing Riikola, Pittsburgh has nine remaining pending free agents, though only Conor Sheary, Patrick Marleau, and Justin Schultz are soon-to-be UFAs. Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said earlier this week the team plans to "move on" from Schultz.

Goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray are among the Pittsburgh players set to become RFAs, but Rutherford said in August that there's a "very, very good chance" he'll have to trade one of his netminders.