NHL: Boston Bruins Extend Adam McQuaid, Begin Talks with RFA Brad Marchand

The Boston Bruins have been pretty quiet in the current NHL free-agency period that began two weeks ago, but today they signed young defenseman Adam McQuaid to a three-year contract extension, according to multiple reports, including Boston.com.

McQuaid, 24, played meaningful minutes in the 2011 playoffs on the third defensive pairing for Boston and solidified himself as a dependable blueliner on the Bruins roster.

He scored three goals and dished out 12 assists in 67 regular season games last season and was second to team captain Zdeno Chara with a plus-minus rating of 30.

The terms of his contract extension were not disclosed and the deal will begin at the start of the 2012-13 season. McQuaid already has a contract for the upcoming season which will pay him $600,000.

With McQuaid locked up long term, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli will likely shift his attention to restricted free-agent forward Brad Marchand, and according to CSNNE's Joe Haggerty, Chiarelli has begun contract talks with Marchand.

Marchand, 23, scored 20 goals as a rookie last season and set a franchise record with 11 goals in the playoffs.

Marchand is expected to get a multi-year deal in the range of $2-$4 million per season. He became a fan favorite last season with his gritty, passionate play, and his offensive talents were a major reason the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup championship in 39 years.

While the Bruins have not made major acquisitions or signings outside of the organization this summer, it is encouraging to see them making a solid effort to keep their young talent for many years to come. 

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report, and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. Follow him on Twitter for NHL news and analysis.