Mike Comrie could get to skate alongside the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh after a disappointing past two seasons. (Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday announced the signing of free agent forward Mike Comrie to a one-year contract.

Pittsburgh has been looking for affordable help with offensive instincts after the team suffered from a lack of secondary scoring behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the playoffs.

The contract is worth $500,000 US.

For Comrie, who turns 30 next week, it is a second chance in a career that has sputtered in recent years. The Edmonton native has missed an average of 30 games the past two seasons.

Comrie's return last season with the Oilers didn't go as planned, with 13 goals and eight assists in 43 games and a long bout with mononucleosis.

Edmonton originally selected him in the third round of the 1999 NHL entry draft, and he's gone on to compile 167 goals and 192 assists for 359 points in 568 games, a career that has also included stops with Philadelphia, Phoenix, Ottawa and the NY Islanders.

Comrie has scored 48 goals and 130 points on the power play in his career, a potential asset for a team that was a disappointing 19th in the NHL with the man advantage, despite their top-end talent.

Comrie was married this summer to singer/actress Hilary Duff.