Boston Bruins, Defenseman Johnny Boychuk agree on three-year contract extension -NHL Update
Boston Bruins did some signing of their own as the team and their veteran defenseman, Johnny Boychuk, came to mutual terms on a three-year contract extension, announced the defending Stanley Cup champion team on Tuesday, February 14, 2012.
The three-year contract negotiations worked out well for the 28-year-old who received a major boost in salary from his previous two-year, $3.75 million deal, now to a three-year, $10 million extension.
In his fourth straight season with Boston Bruins, Boychuk has always advocated that he would like to remain with the team and did not find any other club suitable for him.
“Johnny really wanted to stay here -- I think that’s the overriding theme," GM Peter Chiarelli said. "He has obviously been a good performer for us. He’s a big, strong, physical D, and I’ve had some discussions with all our free agents, I think, over the
last month or so, and this is a deal that has come out of it so far. He’s a Bruin type of player – physical, and yet he can score the shot, and he’s a punishing player. He chose not to test the market, which was nice for us, and we have him under contract
for three more years.”
Boychuk picked up 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) last season in 69 games played and currently has a record of 10 (3 goals, 7 assists) in 53 games during the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
For Boston, Boychuk might not be one of those top scoring players like other defenseman in the league, but he definitely gives them what they need and when they need it most.
Bruins are one of the leading teams in the lowest goals scored against category, which surely shows that Boychuk’s performance is working for them in keeping the opposition out.
There were rumours that the team could be trading him as the February 24 trade deadline came closer but Boston made sure to kill them off well in time.
The renewed contract is also believed to have a no-trade clause, meaning that Johnny Boychuk is a secured Bruins’ player well through the 2014-2015 regular season.
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