Pittsburgh Penguins All-Star left wing James Neal has capitalized on a standout season by signing a six-year, $30 million contract extension, the National Hockey League (NHL) team said on Sunday.
The deal, which will keep Neal under contract through the 2017-18 season, has an average annual value of $5 million, the Penguins said.
Neal is tied for third in the league for goals scored (30) and has 56 points in 58 games.
Both are career highs for the 24-year-old who could have become a restricted free agent on July 1.
He also leads the league in shots on goal (242) and is tied for first in power play goals (13).
"He's got size, an uncanny release, a heavy shot, he goes to the net hard, he can skate," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said in a statement.
"There's a lot to like even beyond the 30 goals."
(Reporting By Gene Cherry in Salvo North Carolina, editing by Ed Osmond)