Bruins Extend GM Chiarelli

BOSTON, MA -- Boston Bruins Principal Charlie Jacobs announced today that the club has signed General Manager Peter Chiarelli, a former Harvard standout, to a multi-year contract extension. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Charlie Jacobs and Chiarelli will hold a press conference on Tuesday, June 16 at 12:00 p.m.

Chiarelli’s club enjoyed one of their best regular seasons in team history in 2008-09, as they posted an Eastern Conference leading 53-19-10 record. Their 53 wins and 116 points were both their third-highest totals in team history, while their 116 points ranked second overall in the NHL, one point behind the San Jose Sharks (117). The Bruins led the NHL in goals against (196) and goal differential (+78) and led the Eastern Conference in goals for (274), second overall in the NHL to the Detroit Red Wings (295). His club swept the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs and earned their first Eastern Conference Semifinals berth since 1999. He was honored by The Sporting News as the 2008-09 NHL Executive of the Year from a poll of his peers, which included 39 coaches and executives.

Chiarelli was responsible for hiring current Bruins head coach Claude Julien and assistant coaches Geoff Ward, Craig Ramsay and Doug Houda. In two seasons as head coach, Julien has amassed a 94-48-22 record and is a finalist for this year’s Jack Adams Award, which is awarded “to the head coach who has contributed the most to his team’s success.”

Chiarelli has brought a combination of youth and experience in the Boston locker room through free agent signings, trades and player development through the Bruins system. Since being named General Manager on May 26, 2006, the club has acquired Norris Trophy finalist Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard, Michael Ryder, Shawn Thornton, Blake Wheeler and Stephane Yelle through free agency; Manny Fernandez, Andrew Ference, Shane Hnidy, Chuck Kobasew, Steve Montador, Mark Recchi, Aaron Ward and Dennis Wideman through trades; and extended the contracts of Vezina Trophy finalist Tim Thomas, Patrice Bergeron, Kobasew, David Krejci, Mark Stuart, Marco Sturm, Ward and Wideman. He also oversaw the development of the club’s younger talent including Byron Bitz, Matt Hunwick, Phil Kessel, Krejci, Milan Lucic and Stuart.

His strategy led the 2008-2009 Bruins to a 22-point improvement over their 2007-2008 record and a 40-point improvement over their 2006-2007 mark. He led the Bruins to their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. In three seasons with the Bruins as General Manager, Chiarelli has amassed a 129-89-28 record and .581 winning percentage.

Off the ice, Chiarelli has expanded his Hockey Operations Staff during the last three seasons by hiring Assistant General Manager Jim Benning, Director of Hockey Operations and Player Development Don Sweeney, Director of Amateur Scouting Wayne Smith, Director of Collegiate Scouting John Weisbrod and promoting Scott Bradley to his current position of Director of Player Personnel. He was an integral part of bringing Bruins legend Cam Neely back to the organization in his current capacity as Vice President.

He also serves as General Manager for Boston’s American Hockey League affiliate in Providence and that club has posted a 142-77-21 record and .635 win percentage in his three seasons. Chiarelli promoted Rob Murray to head coach of Providence after Scott Gordon left the club to become head coach of the New York Islanders. Key players on the P-Bruins roster acquired during Chiarelli’s tenure include goaltender Tuukka Rask, leading scorer Martin St. Pierre and Johnny Boychuk, named as the AHL’s top defenseman for 2008-09.

Prior to joining the Bruins, Chiarelli spent seven seasons with the Ottawa Senators, five as their director of Legal Relations and two as Assistant General Manager. A native of Ottawa, Ontario Chiarelli played four seasons of college hockey at Harvard University, where he served as the team’s captain. He had 21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points in 109 collegiate games and earned his degree in Economics in 1987. He obtained his law degree from the University of Ottawa and was admitted to the Ontario bar in 1993. Chiarelli spent six years as a lawyer and player agent prior to joining the Senators front office.