Chris Kelly will continue his NHL career next season, but he will not do so in Boston.
Kelly, who became an unrestricted free agent last week after five-plus seasons with the Bruins, on Thursday signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators.
The signing marks a homecoming of sorts for the 35-year-old forward, who began his career in Ottawa before being traded to Boston midway through the 2010-11 season.
“We are excited to welcome Chris back to Ottawa,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. “In our evaluation of our roster we felt that we needed to add another player with the ability to succeed in close situations and on the penalty kill. Chris will be able to contribute to both of those while adding another accomplished leader to our group. He understands the type of commitment that is necessary to play at a championship level.”
Kelly, a Bruins alternate captain, provided both leadership and penalty-killing ability during his half-decade in Boston, and the fractured femur he suffered in November — ending his 2015-16 campaign after just 11 games — was a major blow to the Bruins’ bottom six. He is the second member of the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup squad to leave town this summer after defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was bought out last week.
Just six players from that Cup-winning team (Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Adam McQuaid, Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask) remain with the B’s.
Kelly’s best season with the Bruins came in 2011-12, when he set career highs in both goals (20) and points (39). Injuries limited him to 34 games in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign and 57 in 2013-14, but he came back strong in 2014-15, playing in 80 games and tallying 21 assists, the second-highest total of his career.
“There are changes every year, regardless of if you win or you don’t,” Kelly said back in April, two days after the Bruins had failed to secure a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. “That’s just hockey. I love being a Bruin. We’ll see what happens. I have no idea what’s going to transpire the next little bit, but regardless, like I said, I’d love to stay here, but if that’s not the case, this place has been unbelievable to me and my family. ”
I’ve been able to win a Cup, go to the Finals, win a President’s Trophy, and then not only on-ice experiences, but off-ice experiences, living in one of the best cities in the world and getting to experience that. So, it’s been extremely fun.”
Thumbnail photo via James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports Images
