Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman's journey continues

It was arguably the most important day of his professional career.

And Mark Friedman slept in.

On Sunday, after Friedman and his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates trekked back from Arizona after a game with the Coyotes on Saturday, Friedman opted to slumber as it was a day off for the squad.

As a result, Friedman missed a call from his agent, Ian Pulver.

“I got a call from my agent yesterday morning,” Friedman said after practice Monday in Cranberry. “I was actually sleeping so I called him back, and he told me the good news. So I was pretty happy when I woke up.”

The good news was the team offered him a new two-year, one-way contract extension.

Currently in the final year of a two-year, one-way contract that carries a salary cap hit of $725,000, Friedman will receive a small raise in his new deal, which commands an average annual value of $775,000.

Perhaps more importantly, it provides stability he hasn’t always enjoyed throughout his career.

“Obviously, knowing (general manager Ron Hextall) for the time as I’ve known him, it’s real nice for him to show that he has some confidence in me,” Friedman said. “I’m super excited that it’s a two-year, one-way (contract). Looking down the road, it’s definitely nice to see. It brought a smile to my face. I got pretty emotional (Sunday) because of the journey I’ve been on. It’s not easy. You’ve just got to grind. I’m very, very thankful for it.”

The Penguins initially acquired Friedman in February 2021 by claiming him off waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers. A third-round pick (No. 86 overall) in 2014, Friedman began his professional career with the Flyers when Hextall was general manager of that franchise.

Since then, he has appeared in 25 games for the Penguins, including the 20 he has suited up for this season.

A right-handed shot who is capable of playing either side of the blue line, Friedman has recorded five points (one goal, four assists) while averaging 13 minutes, 45 seconds of ice time. He also has drawn 11 penalties in five-on-five play, one of the highest figures on the team.

Even as a seventh defensemen who is sporadically in the lineup, he has found more success with the Penguins than he ever did with the Flyers.

“The systems here in (Pittsburgh) are good with my style, and it fits with me,” Friedman said. “A lot of it is about jumping up in the play. I bring an edginess and a grittiness to a team that needs it sometimes. I like my role. I felt really comfortable. I’m really excited about the two years.”

Friedman has been a healthy scratch for 42 of a possible 63 games this season. That includes a bleak stretch from mid-November through late February when he was scratched for 38 of 39 games.

A two-game conditioning stint in February with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League was highly beneficial.

“That’s never very easy,” Friedman said. “But like my dad told me pretty much every day — it wasn’t easy for my mindset — you’ve got to control what you can. You’ve got to find the positives in everything. The biggest thing for me this year was actually to go down (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) and play a couple of games. … I really think that helped me. I got some timing back and my conditioning back. It helped me out for sure.”

Friedman acknowledges he has plenty of room to grow.

“Only playing 36 (career) games in this league, especially at 26 (years of age), isn’t easy,” Friedman said. “I just wanted to continue to keep growing as a player and especially as a person. I felt like I’ve done that so much this year. Parts of my game I think I can continue to get better on would be … just focusing on defense first and not being so eager to jump up into the play and creating odd-man rushes against. Picking my spots on when to get under (opponent’s) skin. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that.”

Notes: The Penguins assigned forward Radim Zohorna to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The transaction is largely procedural and keeps Zohorna eligible for the AHL’s postseason. Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan suggested Zohorna would be recalled Tuesday in advance of a home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. … Injured forwards Brock McGinn (suspected right hand or arm) and Jason Zucker (core muscle) skated before Monday’s practice. … Penguins defensive prospect Clayton Phillips signed an amateur tryout contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Phillips was a third-round pick (No. 93 overall) of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017.