Bruins Sign Brett Connolly, Jimmy Hayes To Contracts
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Bruins resolved the restricted free agency on their roster on Monday, inking forwards Brett Connolly and Jimmy Hayes to contracts.
Connolly, acquired last year in a Tampa Bay deadline-day trade with Boston, signed a one-year deal worth $1.025 million. Hayes, acquired last week in a trade with Florida, signed a three-year pact with an annual cap hit of $2.3 million.
The team also announced the signing of forward Brandon DeFazio to a one-year, two-way contract with a cap hit of $575,000 at the NHL level.
Hayes, a 25-year-old Dorchester native, came to the Bruins in exchange for Reilly Smith. He scored 19 goals last season, a number which is fewer than only three Bruins (Brad Marchand, 24; Patrice Bergeron, 23; Loui Eriksson, 22). The former Boston College Eagle has 36 goals and 30 assists in 168 career NHL games.
Connolly, 23, played in just five games for Boston after suffering a hand injury at one of his first practices as a member of the Bruins. In 55 total games last year, he scored 12 goals with five assists, and he has 18-16-34 totals in 139 career games.