Bruins nearing contract extension with GM Peter Chiarelli, according to report

The Boston Bruins are nearing a multi-year contract extension with general manager Peter Chiarelli, according to Joe McDonald of ESPN Boston on Thursday morning.

Chiarelli is entering the final year of a four-year extension signed prior to the 2009-10 regular season (he had one year remaining on his contract at the time of the extension). Bruins president Cam Neely expressed during his final media availability of 2013 that Chiarelli was deserving of another extension, as the team had made their second Stanley Cup Final appearance in three seasons. Apparently, negotiations had already been underway as of late June.

Since becoming manager in May of 2006, Chiarelli has constructed six playoff-qualifying teams, which resulted in a Stanley Cup championship in 2011, the club's first since 1972. Many have lauded the Bruins for their ability to assemble and maintain a successful roster in the salary cap era, which has brought a great deal of praise to Chiarelli.

However, the manager made his first substantial change this past summer when he traded Tyler Seguin to the Dallas Stars in a multi-player deal that brought forward Loui Eriksson to Boston. While Seguin is projected to have superstar potential, Eriksson is considered one of the NHL's best kept secrets. It's a move that will likely be revisited by fans and media in the coming years.

Regardless, the Bruins past success has apparently bought Chiarelli future security.

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