After watching notables like Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts and Jarkko Ruutu signing elsewhere this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins managed to retain a key unrestricted free agent.

The Penguins re-signed defenseman Brooks Orpik to a six year, $22.5 million contract, paying him an average of $3.75 million per season.

Orpik was often rumored on his way out of Pittsburgh amid speculation he and head coach Michel Therrien didn’t get along. He denied those rumors and this signing will bury them.

A physical defenseman, Orpik came into his own this season, particularly in the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, where he played big minutes and proved himself a capable “shut-down” defenseman.

Had he hit the open market Orpik probably would’ve received offers around $5 million per season but he obviously wished to remain in Pittsburgh, accepting less than market value to do so.