Amidst the lockout talks and conflict surrounding the NHL, there is some good news to be found. The Bruins signed 20-year-old forward Tyler Seguin to a six year deal, worth $5.75 million a season.
Seguin was the Bruins points leader last season with 67 (29 G, 38 A), the youngest player in team history to finish in the lead. He joins line mate Brad Marchand as the second Bruins player to get a contract extension this week, with Marchand's deal going for four years, $4.5 million a season.
Those two join a list of young players in the NHL who have made their mark and been handsomely rewarded. Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog was named team captain at age 19 for the 2012-13 season. Former first overall pick in the 2010 draft by the Edmonton Oilers, 20-year-old Taylor Hall was inked for another seven years, $42 million.
This move should have been at the top of the Bruins offseason priority list, and clearly was. Hall is a significant piece to the Oilers, who are still in the midst of rebuilding with a young, very talented team. Seguin is a brilliant player on a well-established powerhouse in the East. His 67 points put him at 26th overall in the league last season, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
2011-12 was a breakout year for Seguin, and working alongside line mates Marchand and Patrice Bergeron is an added bonus that will make Seguin one of the premier wingers in the game today.
I think Segs could have gotten even more if his agent pushed a little harder. He must have some nice performance based bonuses built in there too. This will be the year of the Dougie!
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