The Penguins have signed goaltender Matt Murray to a three-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $3.75 million, the team announced Thursday morning.
Murray, 22, was set to become a restricted free agent at season's end. He'll count $628,333 against the salary cap in 2016-17 before the new deal kicks in.
"I'm thrilled, obviously," Murray said. "Pittsburgh is a great place to play."
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said the team and Murray's agent started discussing a new deal during training camp, but weren't necessarily in a rush to come to terms.
"I think it's good for Matt and good for the Penguins to get it done," Rutherford said. "It's not something now that's on his mind, being in a contract year. We're very, very happy to have him in the fold."
Rutherford also pushed back on the idea that Murray's new contract would have any impact on Marc-Andre Fleury's status with the Penguins, especially given the expansion draft looming next offseason.
"It has nothing to do with that," Rutherford said. "Our focus this year is winning, and we'll deal with the expansion draft at the appropriate time."
Murray went 9-2-1 last year during the regular season with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. He led the Penguins to their fourth Stanley Cup with 15 wins to go along with a 2.08 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.
He's still technically considered a rookie and out for a few more weeks with a broken hand/thumb, although he did return to practice Wednesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
The Penguins drafted Murray in the third round (83rd overall) in 2012.
