Boston Bruins sign veteran enforcer Shawn Thornton to two-year extension -NHL
Boston Bruins and veteran enforcer, Shawn Thornton, agreed on mutual terms and conditions for another two seasons as the stakeholders signed a two-year extension, on March 17, 2012.
The two-year contract extension is reportedly worth $2.2 million with an annual salary cap hit of $1.1 million, keeping him well through the 2013-2014 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
It comes as a slight boost from his previous two-year contract with Boston, which was worth $1.625 million and had a yearly hit of $825,000.
With his previous deal set to expire at the end of this 2011-2012 regular season, Thornton was expected to test the market when he became an unrestricted free agent later on in July, but Boston made the move first to keep him on the squad.
At the age of 34, Thornton continues to impress in every game he plays as the physical left winger provides the unmatched defensive depth being a forward player which has made Boston widely known as one of the hardest hitting teams in the league.
Currently in his ninth major league season and fifth straight with Boston Bruins, Thornton has played a total of 439 games throughout that time and has 72 points (29 goals, 43 assists) under his belt with an impressive 763 minutes in penalty time record.
Selected as the 190th overall pick during round-seven of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by Toronto Maple Leafs, the Oshawa, Ontario, Canada native, began his career with Chicago Blackhawks and playing for their minor league affiliate in the American
Hockey League (AHL), Norfolk Admirals.
He went on to play with Anaheim Ducks during 2006-2007 season, following a trade to Boston Bruins where he has been full-time in the major league ever since.
Now that Boston has secured Shawn Thornton by signing the player before he became a free agent, Bruins can now focus on their other players that also await the same.
Chris Kelly, Joe Corvo, Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell are also scheduled to become UFA’s by July 1, unless Boston can reach mutual terms with them as well before then.
More signings are expected by the Bruins as the season gets closer to ending.
Tags: