Penguins sign Friedman to two-year extension

Mark FriedmanThe Penguins locked up one of their pending free agents to a multi-year contract extension.

Ron Hextall on Sunday announced that the Penguins have re-signed defenseman Mark Friedman to a two-year contract extension that begins next season and runs through the 2023-24 season.

The contract is a one-way deal that carries an average annual value of $775,000.

Friedman, 26, was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Typically, players remain restricted free agents until they reach age 27 or have accrued seven seasons, whichever comes first. But for players who are 25 or older, have accrued at least three professional seasons, and have played in fewer than 80 NHL games,…