The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Brendan Mikkelson to a one-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

Mikkelson’s contract is a two-way deal worth $550,000 at the NHL level.

Mikkelson, 26, split the 2012-13 season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL). The blueliner registered one assist and six penalty minutes in four games with the Lightning. He appeared in 13 games with the Crunch, posting two assists and a plus-2 rating. Mikkelson scored two goals in 13 playoffs games, assisting Syracuse in their postseason run to the Calder Cup Finals.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defenseman began the 2012-13 season in Sweden withVasteras of the Allsvenskan league. Mikkelson notched seven points (3G, 4A) and 20 penalty minutes in 17 games with Vasteras.

Mikkelson, who was originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (31stoverall) of the 2005 NHL Draft, has played parts of five seasons in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks, tallying 10 points (1G, 9A) and 59 penalty minutes in 131 career games.

The native of Regina, Saskatchewan has played 196 games in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, Abbotsford Heat, Toronto Marlies, Iowa Chops and Portland Pirates. Mikkelson registered 18 goals, 66 points and 150 penalty minutes from 2007-2013. He has recorded 10 points (4G, 6A) in 27 playoff appearances in the AHL.

Prior to being drafted by Anaheim, Mikkelson played four seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Portland Winter Hawks and Vancouver Giants from 2003-2007. The blueliner posted 16 goals, 70 points and 204 penalty minutes in 226 regular-season games. Mikkelson scored 14 points (5G, 9A) in 33 playoff appearances. His seven assists and 10 postseason points with the Vancouver Giants in 2007 helped his club capture the Memorial Cup as the host team.

Mikkelson’s sister, Meaghan, plays on the Canadian national women’s team and won a gold medal in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.