With an arbitration hearing approaching Friday in Toronto, Matt Hunwick chose the traditional route yesterday, signing a two-year extension with the Bruins. Hunwick’s deal is for a total of $2.9 million with an annual cap hit of $1.45 million.
“It went very well and was done very cordially,’’ said Mark Witkin, one of Hunwick’s agents. “Both we and the Bruins had other things going, so we couldn’t put all our attention toward it. But we just got it done. Very professional and very cordial.’’
Hunwick, the team’s seventh-round pick in 2004 (he played four years at the University of Michigan), turned in a solid season as an NHL rookie in 2008-09, establishing his baseline as a puck-moving, smooth-skating defenseman.
Hunwick appeared in 53 games, recording six goals and 21 assists while serving mainly as the team’s No. 5 defenseman (16:59 average ice time). Eight of Hunwick’s 21 assists came on the power play, where he skated mostly on the No. 2 unit. Hunwick dressed as a forward for six games, seeing some time on the No. 1 line with Marc Savard and Phil Kessel. Hunwick was tied with the Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty for most points among first-year defensemen.
Hunwick didn’t make the club out of training camp, but the Bruins traded Andrew Alberts Oct. 13 and promoted Hunwick from Providence a day later. The Bruins were 38-8-7 with Hunwick in the lineup, 13-10-3 without him. The defenseman was a healthy scratch for 23 games and missed three matches because of flu-like symptoms.
Hunwick made only one playoff appearance: Game 1 against Montreal April 16. During the game, most likely when he was checked in the third period by Mathieu Dandenault, Hunwick suffered a ruptured spleen. Two days later, before the morning skate at Ristuccia Arena, Hunwick was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove his spleen. Hunwick was sidelined the rest of the playoffs, an absence cited by general manager Peter Chiarelli as a significant loss for the Boston defense.
Hunwick has made a full recovery. Witkin said Hunwick has been working out back home in Michigan with no limitations.
“He’s been training very hard,’’ Witkin said. “He doesn’t think there will be a problem. When he comes back, he’ll be tested. People might think he’ll be a little gun-shy, but he’ll prove to everyone that he isn’t.’’
The 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound Hunwick should fill a similar role in 2009-10 as a mobile puck-mover and power-play point man.
“My impression is that they liked everything they saw and they are not putting any limitations on him,’’ Witkin said. “They are probably feeling there isn’t anything he can’t do. He’s at the time and state in his career where he’s going to keep getting better.’’
The 24-year-old Hunwick became a restricted free agent July 1. He was the only Bruin to file for arbitration. Hunwick and Chiarelli are scheduled to comment on the deal this afternoon via conference call.
Kessel is the team’s only restricted free agent yet to sign.
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.
