PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t about to let Patric Hornqvist get away.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions signed the 31-year-old forward to a five-year extension Tuesday that runs through the 2022-23 season. The deal has an average annual value of $5.3 million.

He was set to become a free agent this summer but didn’t hesitate on an extension once he was approached by general manager Jim Rutherford, who rarely makes such a move in the middle of the year.

“This is the city I want to be in and I’m really happy to stay here five more years,” Hornqvist said. “We always have a chance to win and we have a great core group, so that was the key situation for me, too.”

Hornqvist has been a vital part of Pittsburgh’s title runs. He scored the series-clinching goal in Game 6 of the 2017 Stanley Cup finals against Nashville.

“He’s been such a big part of this team and what it’s been able to accomplish the last couple seasons,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He brings so much energy and he’s a positive guy. He brings a dimension to our dressing room that is unique.”