The Boston Bruins signed two players to new deals on Friday, extending Daniel Paille and the freshly acquired Chris Bourque, son of legendary Bruin Ray Bourque.
The terms of the deals were actually announced. Paille was given a three-year contract worth $1.3 million per season while Bourque was re-upped for two seasons at $550,000 per season at the NHL level.
That would appear to be two spots to the third or fourth lines in Boston, but we'll have to see where Bourque will play next season, the NHL or AHL. The second season will be in the NHL, or at least the contract will be as it becomes a one-way deal then.
For the here and now, the more interesting signing is the one of Paille. He has not been able to put together a full season in his two-plus years in Boston but if he could he would likely score in the low-to-mid teens in goals per season. Moreover, he's one of the gritty guys, hard-workers on the bottom lines that teams like to find as he can add a little offense.
Unfortunately, when I think of Paille right now all I can remember is this scene from earlier this season that knocked Paille out of the lineup for some time. It still hurts to watch.
It will be interesting to see what these contracts mean for a couple of the other Bruins free agents like Gregory Campbell and Chris Kelly. Considering the cap uncertainty with the CBA negotiations coming up and the looming restricted free agency with Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand, you have to at least wonder how much room the Bruins will have.
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