Blueger agrees to new deal
Likely to replace Cullen on 4th line
Early this month, hours after the Penguins signed another hard- working latebloomer in Brandon Tanev, general manager Jim Rutherford mentioned that Teddy Blueger had “established himself as a regular NHL player.” Now the 24- year- old center has a contract reflecting that.
Blueger, the latest of the team’s restricted free agents to agree to a new deal, signed a two- year contract Tuesday that has an average annual value of $ 750,000. The contract is a one- way deal.
With Matt Cullen officially retired, Blueger is expected to center the fourth line. If he continues to bloom offensively, he could keep climbing the depth chart.
Blueger, after toiling away in the American Hockey League for three years, made his NHL debut in January and in his second game scored his first career goal on his first career shot. He played 28 games in the regular season, scoring six goals with four assists. He did not record a point in his lone playoff game.
The 24- year- old also represented Latvia at the IIHF world championship after the season and led the tournament by winning 62.7 percent of his faceoffs.
Despite getting the call to the Penguins midway through the season, he still finished second in goals for Wilkes- Barre/ Scranton in 2018- 19. That was a continuation of his growth in the offensive zone after the 2012 secondround pick was initially seen as a checking forward following his career at Minnesota State.
“Teddy is a perfect role model for younger players coming into the league,” assistant general manager Bill Guerin said in a statement. “When you watch a guy with his work ethic, determination and ability to trust the process of going through the proper steps to get to the NHL, you have a great example for younger players.
“Teddy came to us with great expectations, and he’s worked hard to meet each one.”
Blueger became the third restricted free agent the Penguins have gotten under contract in the past couple of weeks, joining Adam Johnson and Joseph Blandisi. Marcus Pettersson and Zach Aston- Reese are their two restricted free agents.