EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers added experience to their defense on the first day of free agency, signing Andrew Ference on Friday.
Ference signed a four-year, $13 million deal, a hefty raise from his last contract with the Boston Bruins.
The 34-year-old Edmonton native was a key part of the Bruins’ run to the Stanley Cup final, though there was no room for him to return to Boston because of salary-cap issues and young defensemen in their system.
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Ference joins a defense that includes Justin Schultz, Ladislav Smid and Nick Schultz.
In 760 career games, Ference has 37 goals and 156 assists. He was a part of the Bruins’ Cup champion team in 2011.
The Oilers also signed a pair of ex-Coyotes — center Boyd Gordon and goaltender Jason Labarbera.
Gordon signed a three-year deal with Edmonton. He has 122 points in 486 games with Washington and Phoenix.
Labarbera signed a one-year contract. The veteran backup spent the past four seasons with the Coyotes.
The Oilers also added former New York Islanders forward Jesse Joensuu, Will Acton and Ryan Hamilton.
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