Oleksy signs one-year contract with Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Steve Oleksy to a one-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

The deal is a two-way contract that carries an average annual value of $575,000 at the NHL level.

Oleksy, 29, has played parts of the last three seasons in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, compiling three goals, 16 assists, 19 points and a plus-15 in 62 regular-season contests. He also has one helper in seven NHL playoff games.

The 6-foot, 190-pound blueliner spent a majority of the 2014-15 campaign with Washington's top farm club, the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he totaled 15 points (4G-11A) and a plus-13 in 68 regular-season games while serving as an alternate captain.

Oleksy, who hails from Chesterfield, Michigan, enjoyed his most successful season at the NHL level with Washington in '13-14, registering 10 points (2G-8A) and a plus-7 in 33 games.

The right-handed shooting defenseman has four-plus years of AHL experience with Lake Erie, Bridgeport and Hershey. Oleksy has 54 points (7G-47A) in 220 career AHL contests. He has also seen action with Las Vegas, Toledo and Idaho of the ECHL.

Oleksy, who signed with the Capitals as an undrafted free agent, played three seasons of college hockey at Lake Superior State from 2006-09.