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

Ferriero’s contract is a two-way deal worth $700,000 at the NHL level.

Ferriero, 25, has spent parts of the last three seasons playing for the San Jose Sharks, including 35 games in 2011-12, when he tallied seven goals and eight points. Ferriero also appeared in 20 games last year with Worcester, the Sharks’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Ferriero amassed 20 points (9G-11A) in 20 games with Worcester.

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Ferriero played in 92 career NHL regular-season games with San Jose, totaling 14 goals, eight assists and 22 points. Ferriero, who stands 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, also played in eight NHL playoff games – with his lone point the overtime game-winning goal in Game 1 of the 2011 Western Conference semifinals against Detroit.

Originally drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the seventh round (196th overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft, Ferriero has appeared in 121 career regular-season AHL contests, notching 44 goals, 59 assists and 103 points. Ferriero has added seven points (5G-2A) in 19 postseason games.

Ferriero spent four years playing college hockey for Boston College of the Hockey East between 2005-09. Ferriero, who was a member of the Eagles’ 2008 NCAA national championship team, totaled 139 points (64G-75A) in 165 career games. He made back-to-back Hockey East All-Tournament Team honors in ’06-07 and ’07-08.

Ferriero has represented the United States several times internationally, including the 2005 World Under-18 Championships when he led the Americans to a gold medal. Ferriero’s younger brother, Cody, was drafted by San Jose in the fifth round (127th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.