The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $775,000. The deal was announced on Wednesday by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas. Alexeyev, who was not extended a qualifying offer by the Washington Capitals, will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Alexeyev, 25, spent the majority of last season as a healthy scratch for the Capitals, appearing in only eight regular-season games. He also played three games for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he recorded two assists.

Drafted 31st overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound defenseman has played 80 career NHL games with Washington over four seasons since 2021, recording one goal, seven assists, and eight points. He has also registered 121 blocks and 91 hits while averaging 15 minutes per game.

Prior to his NHL career, Alexeyev played junior hockey for the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League (WHL). In his first season with the Rebels, he was named a prospect to watch for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Alexeyev also spent time in the KHL, as he was loaned to Salavat Yulaev Ufa by the Capitals for the 2020-21 season.

With the Penguins' right side on defense seemingly set with Connor Clifton, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson, Alexeyev will compete for a spot on the left side with other candidates including Caleb Jones, Parker Wotherspoon, Ryan Graves, Ryan Shea, and Owen Pickering.

Alexeyev's previous contract was a two-year, $1.65 million deal with the Washington Capitals, which expired at the end of the 2024-25 season. He has career earnings of $2,345,080 through 2025.