Caps Re-sign Bradley (Updated)

The Caps have re-signed Matt Bradley to a three-year, $3 million contract extension. The gritty winger, who turns 30 next month, plays a key role on the checking line, isn't afraid to drop the gloves (his 10 fights ranked behind only Donald Brashear's 12) and is one of the more popular guys in the dressing room, not to mention the leader of the players' recycling effort.

Bradley would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He will earn $1 million in each of the next three seasons, I'm told, after earning $700,000 each of the past two.

Bradley chipped in with seven goals and 11 assists in 77 games last year. He also had a plus-minus rating of +1 and took a career-high 111 shots.

"I wanted to stay here, obviously," he said on the phone this afternoon. "We had to come together on money, but the three-year part was a big key for me. I wanted -- not security -- but to know where I was going to be. There's never security in hockey. You always have to play like it's your last game, but it's nice to know where you're going to be for a while."

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