On Tuesday night, the announcement dropped that 41-year old defenseman and captain of the Boston Bruins,
Zdeno Chara, will return for the 2019 season, after signing a 1-year, $5 million contract extension. Chara may already be in his 40s, but he still has been putting up the numbers, playing in 68 games this season, scoring 7 goals and 23 points, carrying a +26 rating for the Bruins, so there doesn't appear to be much for quit in the huge defender. The $5 million deal is actually a raise on his $4 million cap hit in the 2018 season, so not only is he coming back, he's getting a raise to do it.
On Thursday, the Columbus Blue Jackets avoided any restricted free agency issues this summer with defenseman
Markus Nutivaara, as he signed a 4-year, $10.8 million contract extension, which will give the Finn a salary cap hit of $2.7 million in each of those four seasons. The 23-year old has had a reasonably productive season, playing in 59 games, scoring 6 goals and 22 points, not to mention a +10 plus/minus rating, so far in the season. Overall, he has been a very serviceable player for the Jackets and has been pool worthy as well, currently ranking 77th among all defenders in scoring. He should be on your radar for next season.
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