Bruins sign 2 players 24 hours before free agency.
The Boston Bruins got some important contracts done just before free agency.
The Boston Bruins have just wrapped up some important business, getting two players under contract just before they were set to hit the open market as free agents.
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According to a report from National Hockey League insider Frank Seravalli, the Bruins have signed 26 year old Finnish defenseman Henri Jokiharju to a 3 year contract that carries an average annual value and salary cap hit of $3 million per season.
The Bruins acquired Jokiharju ahead of the March trade deadline this year in a deal with the Buffalo Sabres, giving up a fourth round draft pick to acquire him. Since the trade Jokiharju appeared in 18 games for the Bruins, scoring no goals but registering 4 assists and finishing with a solid plus minus rating of +7 over that stretch.
Perhaps more interesting however is the signing of goaltender Michael DiPietro to a new 2 year contract. DiPietro’s new deal will carry an average annual value and cap hit of just $812,500 which makes this a very manageable cap hit for the Bruins.
The reason the signing of the 26 year old Ontario native is so interesting is that DiPietro was reportedly attracting interest around the National Hockey League after a very strong season in the American Hockey League. In 40 games for the Providence Bruins last season DiPietro recorded a 2.05 goals against average and a .927 save percentage, continuing that strong performance in the playoffs where he had a 1.85 goals against average and a .928 save percentage over 7 games.
Brad Marchand Agrees to Six-Year Contract Extension to Stay With Panthers
Karl Rasmussen
The Florida Panthers went into the offseason with plenty of uncertainty as to whether they’d be able to retain some key players from their Stanley Cup winning core, including Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand.
On the eve of NHL free agency, they managed to complete the sweep and lock down all three on new deals.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Marchand and the Panthers are running it back on a new long-term contract. The deal is for a staggering six seasons and will pay the veteran winger a total of $32 million.
As such, Marchand will be under contract at an average annual value of $5.33 million through the 2030-31 season, at which point he’ll be just shy of 43 years old.
It’s a long term to commit to the veteran, but GM Bill Zito was determined not to let any of Bennett, Ekblad or Barchand reach the open market, and was successful in his efforts to keep them. The trio are now set to earn a combined $19.43 million annually.
Last season, Florida acquired Marchand in a trade deadline deal with the Boston Bruins. He went on to be an instrumental cog in their championship run, registering 20 points including 10 goals during the postseason.
