PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins and defenseman Matt Niskanen have agreed to two-year, $4.3 million deal that will keep him with the team until 2014.

The 25-year-old Niskanen had four goals and 17 assists in 75 games last season with Pittsburgh and had a plus-nine rating. Niskanen joined the Penguins in 2010-11 in the same trade that brought forward James Neal to the team.

Niskanen has proven to be a deft penalty killer for the Penguins and is considered a key part of the blue line after the team shipped Zbynek Michalek to Phoenix last week.