VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - A person familiar with the deal says the Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Kevin Bieksa to a five-year, $23 million contract extension on Monday, four days before he could have hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Monday because the team had yet to announce the deal.
Bieksa, who turned 30 on June 16, had six goals, 16 assists and was tied for second in the NHL with a plus-32 rating in 66 regular season games. He had five goals and five assists in 25 playoff games, including the Western Conference-clinching goal in double-overtime against the San Jose Sharks.
Bieksa made $3.5 million last season, and his new contract has an annual salary-cap hit of $4.6 million.
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