The Boston Bruins have signed center David Backes to a $30 million, five-year deal.
Agent Wade Arnott confirmed the deal Friday less than a half-hour into the start of the free agent period.
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Backes will count $6 million against the salary through the 2020-21 NHL season.
The 32-year-old from Minneapolis had 21 goals and 24 assists last season for the St. Louis Blues. He had been the Blues' captain.
Backes has 206 goals and 254 assists in 727 regular-season NHL games. He has 27 points in 49 Stanley Cup playoff games.