Pittsburgh Penguins sign defenseman Rob Scuderi to four-year deal

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero announced today that they have signed defenseman Rob Scuderi to a four-year, $13.5 million contract. The deal runs through the 2016-17 campaign, and has an average annual cap value of $3.375 million.

Jun 8, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Patrick Sharp (10) battles for the puck with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi (7) during the third period in game five of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

Scuderi, 34, comes back to the Black and Gold after spending the past four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. The tough blueliner originally played five-plus campaigns with the Pens between 2003 to 2009, helping the team to a Stanley Cup championship in 2009. He helped the Kings to a Stanley Cup championship in 2012.

The 6-foot-1, 216-pound native of Syosset, New York appeared in all 48 regular-season games with Los Angeles in 2012-2013, putting up one goal, 11 assists and 12 points. He led the team in both blocked shots with 66 and shorthanded minutes with 3:13 while averaging 21:47 minutes per game. Scuderi contributed three assists and led the Kings with a plus-9 rating in 18 games during the postseason.

In his eight-plus NHL seasons with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, Scuderi has played in 585 career regular-season games, totaling 86 points – seven goals and 79 assists.He has 14 points, one goal and 13 assists, in 99 career postseason games.

Shero began at noon on Friday with about $4.1 million in cap space for the roster, but clubs can be up to 10-percent over that allotment in the summer, per terms of the NHL’s labor agreement. The cap, it has been reported, does not need to be set until the regular season.