The Boston Bruins have announced a multi-year extension with General Manager Peter Chiarelli has been agreed upon. Chiarelli, who has helped orchestrate a turnaround in which the B's have gone from cellar dwellers to cup contenders in the span of just two seasons, was set to enter the final year of a four-year deal.

This should come as great news to fans in the Hub of Hockey. Chiarelli has proven to be a quick, effective negotiator with UFAs and RFAs, qualities noticeably not part of the repertoire of previous GM's in Boston. He has shown that, at long last, a solidified plan is in place, both in Boston and Providence. AHL players are honing their skills in a system that mirrors that of the big club, and thanks largely to Chiarelli, call-ups are already in tune with Claude Julien's game plan.

While the B's GM has made a few minor missteps (Bochenski for Versteeg, anyone?), the good far outweighs the bad when it comes to his track record. A few examples:

* Signing center Marc Savard (a fixture among leaders in points and assists while in Boston).

* Signing defenseman Zdeno Chara, and naming him captain (no explanation needed).

* Realizing he, well, really ****ed up by hiring Dave Lewis, and canning Mr. Mustache.

* Bringing in Claude Julien to make everyone forget about the worst coach in team history.

* Signing Mark Stuart to an affordable $1.3m deal. Stuart is going to be a staple on the blueline for years to come.

*Luring Blake Wheeler to Boston. The sky is the limit for #26.

* Signing Chuck Kobasew to an extremely reasonable deal (3 yrs, $2.33m). Not bad for a 20-goal scorer who gives it his all.

* Somehow locking David Krejci up at just $3.75m/season, for three years.

* Rightfully turning down every deal other GM's pitched in order to pry Phil Kessel away.

* Picking up Mark Recchi at the deadline for a few prospects that were no longer part of the big picture. Sorry Lash, no tears shed from this guy when you were sent packing (*points both thumbs at self*).

* Acquiring Tuukka Rask, the goaltending stud of the future, for Andrew Raycroft. Yes, that same Andrew Raycroft who falls asleep with a baseball cap on at the end of the bench.

Without further ado, here is the official press release from the B's:

BOSTON, MA - Boston Bruins Principal Charlie Jacobs announced today
that the club has signed General Manager Peter Chiarelli to a multi-year
contract extension. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be
disclosed. Charlie Jacobs and Chiarelli will hold a press conference on
Tuesday, June 16 at 12:00 p.m. ET in Legends at the TD Banknorth Garden
(Legends is located on the third floor of the TD Banknorth Garden,
detailed directions can be found at the end of this release).

Chiarelli’s club enjoyed one of their best regular seasons in team
history in 2008-09, as they posted an Eastern Conference leading
53-19-10 record. Their 53 wins and 116 points were both their
third-highest totals in team history, while their 116 points ranked
second overall in the NHL, one point behind the San Jose Sharks (117).
The Bruins led the NHL in goals against (196) and goal differential
(+78) and led the Eastern Conference in goals for (274), second overall
in the NHL to the Detroit Red Wings (295). His club swept the Montreal
Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs and earned their first
Eastern Conference Semifinals berth since 1999. He was honored by The
Sporting News as the 2008-09 NHL Executive of the Year from a poll of
his peers, which included 39 coaches and executives.

Chiarelli was responsible for hiring current Bruins head coach Claude
Julien and assistant coaches Geoff Ward, Craig Ramsay and Doug Houda.
In two seasons as head coach, Julien has amassed a 94-48-22 record and
is a finalist for this year’s Jack Adams Award, which is awarded “to
the head coach who has contributed the most to his team’s success.”

Chiarelli has brought a combination of youth and experience in the
Boston locker room through free agent signings, trades and player
development through the Bruins system. Since being named General Manager
on May 26, 2006, the club has acquired Norris Trophy finalist Zdeno
Chara, Marc Savard, Michael Ryder, Shawn Thornton, Blake Wheeler and
Stephane Yelle through free agency; Manny Fernandez, Andrew Ference,
Shane Hnidy, Chuck Kobasew, Steve Montador, Mark Recchi, Aaron Ward and
Dennis Wideman through trades; and extended the contracts of Vezina
Trophy finalist Tim Thomas, Patrice Bergeron, Kobasew, David Krejci,
Mark Stuart, Marco Sturm, Ward and Wideman. He also oversaw the
development of the club’s younger talent including Byron Bitz, Matt
Hunwick, Phil Kessel, Krejci, Milan Lucic and Stuart.

His strategy led the 2008-2009 Bruins to a 22-point improvement over
their 2007-2008 record and a 40-point improvement over their 2006-2007
mark. He led the Bruins to their first back-to-back playoff appearances
since 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. In three seasons with the Bruins as
General Manager, Chiarelli has amassed a 129-89-28 record and .581
winning percentage.

Off the ice, Chiarelli has expanded his Hockey Operations Staff during
the last three seasons by hiring Assistant General Manager Jim Benning,
Director of Hockey Operations and Player Development Don Sweeney,
Director of Amateur Scouting Wayne Smith, Director of Collegiate
Scouting John Weisbrod and promoting Scott Bradley to his current
position of Director of Player Personnel. He was an integral part of
bringing Bruins legend Cam Neely back to the organization in his current
capacity as Vice President.

He also serves as General Manager for Boston’s American Hockey League
affiliate in Providence and that club has posted a 142-77-21 record and
.635 win percentage in his three seasons. Chiarelli promoted Rob Murray
to head coach of Providence after Scott Gordon left the club to become
head coach of the New York Islanders. Key players on the P-Bruins roster
acquired during Chiarelli’s tenure include goaltender Tuukka Rask,
leading scorer Martin St. Pierre and Johnny Boychuk, named as the
AHL’s top defenseman for 2008-09.

Prior to joining the Bruins, Chiarelli spent seven seasons with the
Ottawa Senators, five as their director of Legal Relations and two as
Assistant General Manager. A native of Ottawa, Ontario Chiarelli played
four seasons of college hockey at Harvard University, where he served as
the team’s captain. He had 21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points in
109 collegiate games and earned his degree in Economics in 1987. He
obtained his law degree from the University of Ottawa and was admitted
to the Ontario bar in 1993. Chiarelli spent six years as a lawyer and
player agent prior to joining the Senators front office.

Details of the deal will be announced tomorrow at noon time, as the Bruins will host a press conference to discuss the extension at the TD Banknorth Garden.

So, are you happy to have PC in the fold for the foreseeable future? Or, do you still hold a grudge against him for one of his prior moves?

Let me know what you think.

JC


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