Defenseman Andrew Ference has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Bruins. According to reports, the deal is worth $6.75 million. This equates to a $2.25 million annual cap hit through the 2013-2014 season.
Though I like Ference and what he brings to the team when healthy, he has and perhaps always will be a question mark. I mentioned before when Ference went down that his future with the Bruins may be in question, considering he played only 47 games last season and only 59 games in 2007-2008. His inability to stay on the ice coupled with his need for surgery in the offseason makes this another questionable signing for the B’s. Add the fact that the deal is worth over $2 million a year, a significant raise over the $1.4 million he currently makes, and I can’t help but be dumbfounded. I’m just not sure how you can give a guy a raise when he can’t even stay on the ice.
If healthy, it could turn out to be a good signing for the B’s. Ference is a tough, quick defenseman who can make his impact felt around the blue line in particular. With all things considered though, I’m very skeptical going forward. One also has to wonder what impact this will have on the team’s other defensemen whose contracts will be in limbo. I’d definitely label this move as a headscratcher.