BOSTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The Boston Bruins Tuesday signed veteran defenseman Bryan Berard, who returned to the NHL last season after suffering a serious right eye injury.
Berard received a one-year contract with a one-year club option. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Boston is hoping that Berard will provide much-needed scoring from the blue line. Sean Brown led Bruins defensemen with just six goals last season.
"We feel that Bryan will help our team," said Bruins General Manager Mike O'Connell. "He proved a lot last year by playing in all 82 games after being out of hockey for a year. He is still an excellent skater and he has offensive talents that will blend well with our defense."
Berard, the Calder Trophy winner in 1996-97 as the NHL's top rookie, suffered what was believed to be a career-ending injury when he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was accidentally high-sticked in his right eye by Ottawa winger Marian Hossa in a game on March 11, 2000. He underwent three operations on the severely-damaged eye and missed the entire 2000-01 season.
The 25-year-old defenseman signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers last October and played all 82 games for them, recording two goals and 21 assists.
The Woonsocket, R.I., native was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 draft by the Ottawa Senators, but was traded to the New York Islanders. He scored a career-high 14 goals in 1997-98.
The Maple Leafs acquired Berard from the Islanders in a deal for goaltender Felix Potvin in January 1999. He played in 102 games over parts of two seasons with the Maple Leafs before suffering his career-threatening eye injury.
The 6-2, 218-pound Berard has 36 goals and 145 assists for 181 points in 372 career games. He also played for Team USA in the 1998 Olympics at Nagano, Japan.
