PITTSBURGH (AP) Right winger Aleksey Morozov avoided a salary arbitration hearing Wednesday by signing a new contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Morozov had career highs of 20 goals and 29 assists in 72 games last season, and his 49 points were 18 more than his previous best.

The 25-year-old will earn $1.1 million next season and $1.6 million in 2003-04, according to Canadian Press. The deal could be worth more with bonuses.

Morozov made $726,000 last season, easily the best of his five NHL seasons with the Penguins.

Selected 24th in the 1995 draft, Morozov has 59 goals in 349 career games.

He was the last of three Pittsburgh players who filed for arbitration but instead signed contracts. The Penguins avoided arbitration by signing Randy Robitaille and Dan LaCouture last week.

The Penguins still have two significant restricted free agents who are not signed - defensemen Michal Rozsival and Josef Melichar.

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