The deal runs through the 2018-19 season and has an average annual value of $650,000.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

Ruhwedel, 27, enjoyed his best season at the NHL level this past year, skating in a career-high 34 regular-season contests, collecting 10 points (2G-8A) and a plus-9. He also skated in six playoff games with Pittsburgh on the way to helping the Pens earn a second-straight Stanley Cup victory. His NHL playoff debut came in Game 6 of the Second Round against Washington, and he was in the lineup when Pittsburgh earned a Game 7 road victory against the Capitals at the Verizon Center.

A native of San Diego, California, Ruhwedel made his Pittsburgh debut on Dec. 20 against the New York Rangers, and scored his first NHL goal three nights later versus Cory Schneider and the New Jersey Devils. On March 8 at Winnipeg, Ruhwedel had the best game of his NHL career, picking up three assists.

The 5-foot-11, 191-pound defenseman spent half of his first season in the Pittsburgh organization with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, tallying 16 points (4G-12A) in 28 contests.

Ruhwedel broke into the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres organization as an undrafted free agent following a three-year collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Ruhwedel has appeared in a combined 67 career NHL regular-season games with Pittsburgh and Buffalo, netting 12 points (2G-10A).

Last year, Ruhwedel joined the Pittsburgh organization as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2016.