PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins say they have re-signed forward Joe Vitale to a two-year, $1.1 million contract extension.

Vitale, 26, of St. Louis, Mo., made his NHL debut with the Penguins last season. His new deal begins with the 2012-2013 season and runs through the 2013-2014 season.

He has three goals and seven assists while dressing for 44 of the Penguins’ 51 games, filling a third- or fourth-line role and serving on the team’s fourth-ranked penalty-killing unit.

Vitale leads the team in faceoff percentage (55.9 percent) and has 24 blocked shots.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound forward would have been a restricted free agent this offseason.

He was drafted by the Penguins in the seventh round of the 2005 draft.

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