Penguins Re-Sign O’Connor, Avoid Arbitration

Bottom-six forward Drew O’Connor has signed a two-year contract to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The deal carries a salary-cap hit of $925,000.

Reaching the agreement means that the arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday for O’Connor, who had been a restricted free agent, will not take place.

O’Connor, 25, had five goals and six assists in 46 games with the Penguins in 2022-23. He had eight goals and 14 assists in 20 games with their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre.

O’Connor played his best hockey in the final weeks of the regular season and followed that with a strong showing for Team USA at the world championships.

He is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds and, despite the addition of a number of bottom-six forwards via free agency this summer, likely will be a favorite to retain his spot on the major-league roster.