Vitale has three goals and seven assists while dressing for 44 of Pittsburgh's 51 games, filling a third- or fourth-line role and serving on the Penguins' fourth-ranked penalty-killing unit.

Vitale, who made his NHL debut for Pittsburgh last season, leads the team in faceoff percentage (55.9 percent) and has 24 blocked shots. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound St. Louis native would have been a restricted free agent this offseason.