Former Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman Signs Contract in Sweden

Former Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman signed a two-year contract with Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), the club announced Thursday, also reported by NHL analyst Seth Rorabaugh.

The 29-year-old Toronto native spent the 2024-25 campaign splitting time between the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators organizations, mostly at the AHL level.

He played in five NHL contests for Vancouver, averaging 14:04 of ice time but failing to record a point.

Friedman suited up for both the Abbotsford Canucks and Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, where in 41 games he had 19 points (three goals, 16 assists).

A physical, right-handed shooting defenseman, Friedman has mostly been a depth player throughout his professional career.

Friedman played parts of three seasons with the Penguins, appearing in 54 games and recording 11 points while averaging 13:34 of ice time per game. He also suited up for the Philadelphia Flyers and played in the NHL for seven straight seasons.

In total, Friedman has played 93 NHL games for three teams, notching four goals and nine assists while averaging just over 13 minutes per night.

Although most of his recent career has been spent in the minors, he brings experience and stability to the defense of Rogle BK as he makes the move to European hockey.

We wish Friedman the best as he enters European hockey, and maybe one day we will see him back in the NHL.