Where does Lizotte fit in with Penguins?

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Of all the signings the Penguins made on the opening day of free agency, only one was for a contract longer than one season.

The Penguins on Monday signed forward Blake Lizotte to a two-year, one-way contract worth $1.85 million per year.

Lizotte is a 26-year-old left-handed shot listed at 5 foot 9 and 170 pounds. He's primarily a center, with the only experience he has at wing as a professional coming in a limited stint last season. Before this summer Lizotte spent his entire five-year professional career with the Kings, who first signed him as an undrafted free agent out of St. Cloud State at the end of the 2018-19 season.

Lizotte has amassed a total of 37 goals and 69 assists over his 320 career games with the Kings. Last season he was sidelined for over a month with a lower-body injury and was limited to 62 regular-season games, scoring seven goals and eight assists. He had one goal in five playoff games before the Kings were eliminated in the first round.

Check out this assist made possible by Lizotte diving to block a shot with his stick to start the rush:

Lizotte is a defensive, bottom-six center with the ability to kill penalties. But it remains to be seen where exactly he'll fit into the Penguins' lineup. The Penguins already have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Lars Eller, Noel Acciari, Kevin Hayes and now Lizotte as natural centers under contract and expected to play in the NHL next season. Acciari and Hayes also have a comfort level at wing, and Kyle Dubas said on Monday that Hayes is expected to start at center, which could allow Acciari to shift to wing, where he seemed to play better toward the end of last season. Even so, that's one too many centers for a lineup. It could make someone like Eller expendable for a trade to free up cap space and/or bring in future assets by way of pick and prospects.