Penguins re-sign defenceman Juuso Riikola to two-year contract

Sportsnet Staff @SportsnetSeptember 05, 2020 - 5:16pm

Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Juuso Riikola (50) has re-signed with the club for two more seasons. (Frank Franklin II/AP)

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed defenceman Juuso Riikola to a two-year, $2.3-million contract. He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this off-season.

Riikola, 26, appeared in 36 games for the Penguins in 2019-20, including four as a forward as the club dealt with injuries. In two years with the Penguins, he has appeared in 73 games, scoring three goals, 12 points and posting a plus-six rating.

Before joining the Penguins in 2018, he skated for KalPa in Finland’s Liiga for six seasons.

“When he is on his game, Juuso has shown the ability to be a solid contributor for our team,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “We feel he is going to take the next step forward in his development.”

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