The Boston Bruins have come to terms on a long-term contract extension with forward Patrice Bergeron, the team announced on Friday morning.
Patrice Bergeron agrees to contract extension with Bruins
Patrice Bergeron has agreed to a contract extension with the Boston Bruins. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the completion of the 2013-14 season.
Bruce Bennett
The two sides came to terms on an eight-year, $52 million deal that carries an average annual value of $6.5 million against the salary cap. Bergeron still has one year remaining on a three-year, $15 million contract, according to CapGeek.com. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2013-14 season. By agreeing to an extension now, the team avoids the prospect of the open market luring Bergeron away.
Considered one of the best two-way centers in the game, Bergeron registered the highest face-off percentage in the NHL during the 2013 season with a 62.1 percent success rate. The 27-year-old registered 19:17 of average ice time per game during the regular season, which included substantial time on both the penalty kill (2:12 average) and power play units (2:10 average).
In 42 regular season games during 2013, Bergeron registered 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points. In 22 playoff games, he registered nine goals and six assists for 15 points while acting as a key contributor to the Bruins' second Eastern Conference Championship in three seasons. Bergeron sustained a multitude of injuries near the end of the Stanley Cup Final, which culminated in a collapsed lung and two hospital stays.
Originally selected with the No. 45 overall selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Bruins, Bergeron has played in 579 career regular season games and has accumulated 433 points (153 goals and 280 assists).
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