BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins have signed Patrice Bergeron to a three-year contract extension.
The team announced Friday that the deal will keep the 25-year-old forward in Boston through the 2013-14 season. Reports said the deal was worth US$15 million for a cap hit of $5 million per year -- a slight increase on the $4.75 million average of his previous deal.
"This is a good, solid platform for Patrice to regain and redevelop his offensive game and I know he can do it," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said on a conference call from Prague. "And he's one of the best two-way centres in the league."
A second-round draft pick in 2003, Bergeron has 99 goals and 181 assists in 376 regular-season games, as well as five goals and 15 assists in 31 playoff games.
He had 19 goals and 33 assists last season to tie David Krejci for the team lead with 52 points, although he has yet to regain his form from 2005-06 when he had a career-high 73 points.
Bergeron, entering his seventh NHL season, missed most of the 2007-08 season because of a severe concussion, and was out another month the following season with a second concussion.
The injuries did not put Chiareli off signing the Anceinne-Lorette, Que., native to a new deal.
"You think about it, as does Patrice, but he's a very strong young man," Chiarelli said. "He's recovered very well from this concussion.
"He plays a robust game. There's risk in these things for both parties, but we were satisfied with where he was physically and mentally."
The Bruins open their season with two games against the Phoenix Coyotes this weekend in the Czech Republic.
-- With files from The Canadian Press
