Defenseman Andrew Ference has agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Boston Bruins.
The signing was confirmed by NESN.com's James Murphy after being first reported by Matt Kalman of thebruinsblog.net, whose source said the deal is worth $6.75 million.
Though Ference will need offseason groin surgery, the signing locks up one of four potential free agents on the blue line. Ference, who makes $1.4 million this season, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. New acquisition Dennis Seidenberg will become a UFA at the end of the season, while Mark Stuart and Johnny Boychuk are on course to become restricted free agents.
Ference, 31, has yet to find the back of the net this year, registering eight assists in 50 games. In his career, he's scored 24 goals, registered 117 assists and posted a minus-34 rating. He turned 31 on St. Patrick's Day.
