The Boston Bruins were obviously busy negating contracts during their European jaunt. Just hours before their first game on Saturday, they announced a seven-year contract extension with captain Zdeno Chara.
Chara's deal, which will keep him in a Bruins jersey until 2018, is worth $45.5 million. The 33-year-old defenseman's hit against the salary cap will be $6.5 million this year. This deal will take the 12-year veteran to age 41.
Matt Keator, Chara's agent, told the Boston Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont that his client was glad to be staying with Boston:
"He's said all along Boston is the only place he wants to be, he's committed to bringing the Cup to Boston."
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli stressed the importance of completing deals with Chara and Patrice Bergeron before the puck dropped on the season in a Saturday post-game press conference about the deal:
"There's uncertainty as the season progresses, as far as trying to retain these types of players, as they get closer to the free market, you never know what's going to happen."