The Bruins first broke signing news by re-signing forward Byron Bitz to a multi-year deal. Details of the contract have yet to be disclosed. When they are, they will be updated in the previous post.
Bitz is getting married in a couple of weeks and is skipping his honeymoon to start working out and preparing for next season.
“I just want to keep building on what happened the last half of last year and keep it going this year,” he said.
Another story broke that the Bruins signed center Steve Begin to a one-year deal worth $850,000.
By signing Begin, GM Peter Chiarelli said that fourth-line center Stephane Yelle will not return. Begin will replace Yelle on the fourth line and serve in a penalty-killing role as well.
That isn't surprising. The Bruins still have Mark Recchi and P.J. Axelsson to consider. Chiaralli said in his conference call that Matt Hunwick or Recchi could be done tonight.
Late Update: Add defenseman Johnny Boychuk to the list of re-signed. Boychuck was an unrestricted free agent. He agreed to a one-year deal tonight. Chiarelli was to have said it would have taken a one-way deal to ink the AHL's most outstanding defenseman last season.
