The deal is worth $27.8 million US, making him the highest paid player in franchise history.
"I know how hard it was and it was nice to get it done," said Bertuzzi of the protracted negotiations in a post-game press conference.
Todd Bertuzzi signed a new four-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. (CP Photo)
"This is my home, this is where my kids were born, and this is where I became the player I am today," Bertuzzi said.
Bertuzzi, 28, was in the final year of a contract that would have paid him a base salary of $3.7 million US, but under the new deal his base salary will increase to $4.3 million US.
He'll also receive a $2.5 million US signing bonus.
"His old contract does not exist any more," said Dave Nonis, the Canucks vice-president of hockey operations. "We've redone his contract so it's a new four-year deal."
Bertuzzi will earn $6.6 million US next year and he will receive a $500,000 US signing bonus. The last two years of the four-year deal will see him earn $6.9 million US a season.
The burly right-winger wanted to sign a new deal prior to the start of the season, and told the club he wouldn't negotiate until next summer if a deal couldn't be reached. When the season started with no new deal in place, Bertuzzi extended his deadline and the issue was finally put to rest Sunday.
Bertuzzi is coming off a breakout season last year, scoring a career-high 46 goals and 97 points in 82 games and finishing third in NHL scoring.
The six-foot-three, 245-pound Sudbury, Ont., native was drafted by the New York Islanders (23rd overall) in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to Vancouver on Feb. 6, 1998 in a deal that saw the Islanders send him, Bryan McCabe and a third-round draft pick to the Canucks for Trevor Linden.
