The Team is Complete!

I'm a little late posting this so it is old news, but Patrice Bergeron signed on August 22nd, 2006. This is significant because he is one of the top Bruins (leading scorer last year) and easily the best young talent they have. True Kessel could become that guy, but he has yet to play in the big leagues.

His contract signing was big in a second way as well, as he became the highest paid player in his "young guns" group (Cole, Staal, Hemsky, Kotalik, Nash, Spezza, etc..). Terms released give Bergeron a 5-year deal worth $23.75 million and he will make $3 million in 2006-07, $5 million in years two through four, and $5.75 million in 2010-11. With the way the new CBA works, the annual hit on the salary cap will be $4.75 million per year.

Presently, the Bruins salary commitments sit around $40 million but they should announce the injury exemption of Alex Zhamnov soon (has to be before the beginning of the season). This will remove $4.1 million, giving Chiarelli some room to move later in the season.

Chiarelli also announced the signing of Hobey Baker finalist T.J. Trevelyan to a multi-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Trevelyan is left handed shooting winger who played for St. Lawrence University, where he led the ECACHL in scoring last year with 20-28-48 totals. With the this signing the Bruins now have two of last years ten Hobey Baker finalists, as they signed LW Chris Collins on July 11th, 2006.