BOSTON (Ticker) - Defenseman Hal Gill decided to stay near home.
The Boston Bruins announced that Gill agreed to a one-year qualifying offer on Tuesday.
Terms were not disclosed, but Gill did receive $2 million in 2003-04.
A native of Concord, Massachusetts, Gill has missed just 14 games due to injuries in his seven seasons with the Bruins. In 2003-04, Gill appeared in all 82 games, recording nine points and 99 penalty minutes while ranking second among club defensemen with a plus-16 rating.
The previous season, Gill led the entire team in that category with a plus-21 rating. "We're pleased that Hal signed his contract," Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell said. "Hal is one of our steadiest and most reliable players. He plays a lot of minutes and has been one of our highest (plus-rated) players as well over the past couple of NHL seasons."
An eighth-round pick of Boston in 1993, Gill has collected 19 goals and 68 assists with 464 penalty minutes in 546 career games.
Due to the lockout last season, Gill played in 31 games with Lukko Rauma in Finland, totaling 10 points and 110 penalty minutes.