PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed offensive-minded defenceman Alex Goligoski to a US$5.5-million, three-year contract.

Goligoski, 23, split time last season between the team's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre and the NHL, where he had six goals and 14 assists in 45 regular season games. He didn't appear in the Stanley Cup final for Pittsburgh.

Goligoski is expected to remain with the NHL team next season.

The Penguins have three defencemen who will become unrestricted free agents if they are not signed by July 1: Rob Scuderi, Hal Gill and Philippe Boucher.