Thornton opts to stay in Boston

BOSTON -- Joe Thornton is going to captain the Boston Bruins for quite some time.

The 26-year-old star center, who could've become an unrestricted free agent next summer, signed a three-year deal with the Bruins on Thursday that will pay $6.6 million in each season.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, no player can make more than 20 percent -- or $7.8 million -- of a team's $39 million salary cap next season.

"Joe's signing was a priority and we are again making clear how much he means to this franchise," Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell said in a statement. "He is among the upper echelon of players in our league and he just continues to get better."

Thornton's agent, J.P. Barry, said the player could have agreed to a one-year deal and then signed an extension after Jan. 1. Under the CBA, that ended the NHL lockout, teams cannot sign players to extensions before Jan. 1 of their final contract year.

"Joe really believes this team can have some success and didn't want that to be a distraction," Barry said.

He also said Thornton wanted to see who the Bruins signed after the lockout ended last month and "he really liked what Boston has done for the past few weeks."

The Bruins entered the free agent signing season with only four players under contract and plenty of money to spend. They added defenseman Brian Leetch and forwards Alexei Zhamnov, Shawn McEachern and Doug Scatchard.

They also re-signed forwards Glen Murray and Sergei Samsonov and acquired left wing Brad Isbister from Edmonton for a fourth-round draft choice in 2006.

Lindros signs with Toronto

Eric Lindros admits he is not the player he once was. But even after eight concussions, he thinks he has plenty left to offer the Toronto Maple Leafs.

General manager John Ferguson is giving Lindros that opportunity and taking a chance by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $1.55 million with the hulking forward.

Lindros has played 678 NHL games, recording 356 goals.