Penguins Re-Sign Tyler Kennedy, Two-Year, $2 million Per Year Deal

Just before free agency, the Penguins locked up Tyler Kennedy.  From the team:

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Tyler Kennedy to a two-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
 
Kennedy’s contract will run through the 2012-13 season and has an average annual value of $2 million.
 
Kennedy, 24, is coming off the best season of his four-year career after establishing single-season highs across the board in games played (80), goals (21), assists (24), points (45) and power-play goals (7). In seven postseason games, Kennedy added two goals and one assist.

Pens GM Ray Shero chose not to qualify Kennedy, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent today at noon.  The Penguins did not want to do that, because then Kennedy could have filed for salary arbitration and likely would have been awarded a salary far above $2 million dollars.

TK though, obviously wanted to stay in Pittsburgh and turned down the chance to see his open market value.  Keeping him fills in the right side a little more, and in the wake of Jaromir Jagr not joining the Pens, keeps a little more money open if Shero wants to see what is out there.