BOSTON, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, July 6, that the club has signed forward Jimmy Hayes to a three-year contract through the 2017-18 season worth a cap figure of $2,300,000, forward Brett Connolly to a one-year contract through the 2015-16 season worth a cap figure of $1,025,000 at the NHL level and forward Brandon DeFazio to a one-year, two-way contract through the 2015-16 season worth a cap figure of $575,000 at the NHL level.





The Dorchester, MA native Jimmy Hayes played 72 games for the Florida Panthers during the 2014-15 season and recorded 19 goals (third on the team) and 16 assists for 35 points.



In total the 25-year-old forward has competed in 168 NHL games from 2011 to 2015 for both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Florida Panthers, tallying 36 goals and 30 assists for 66 points.



Hayes played three seasons at Boston College from 2008-2011, totaling 42 goals and 39 assists for 81 points in 117 games. In his sophomore season, Hayes competed in all 42 games for the Eagles helping them to the 2010 NCAA National Championship.



Hayes has represented the U.S. in international play winning the Silver Medal in the 2007 U-18 World Junior Championship and also during the 2014 World Championship and 2009 U-20 World Junior Championship.



The 6’6”, 221-pound forward was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round (60th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.



Connolly, 23, has skated in 139 career NHL games for Tampa and Boston and registered 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points with 82 penalty minutes. In 50 games with Tampa Bay in 2014-15, Connolly potted 12 goals and three assists while accruing 38 penalty minutes before being acquired by Boston. In five games with Boston last season, Connolly picked up two assists, both of which came in his first game as a Bruins on April 2, 2015 against the Detroit Red Wings.



During the 2012-13 AHL season Connolly tallied 31 goals and 32 assists for 63 points while playing for the Syracuse Crunch. The 31 goals were tied for the third most in the league while the 63 points ranked ninth.



The 6'2'', 181-pound native of Campbell River, BC was drafted by the Lightning in the first round (6th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.



DeFazio skated in two games for the Vancouver Canucks last season, including his NHL debut on November 9, 2014 against the Ducks in Anaheim.



The winger spent the majority of the 2014-15 season with the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League, where he competed in 75 games, tallying 21-22-43 totals with 92 penalty minutes (second on the team). DeFazio's 21 goals led the Comets, while his 43 points were tied for second on the team.



The 26-year-old has spent the previous seasons in the American Hockey League, skating for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins from 2010-2012, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2012-13 and the Utica Comets from 2013-15. In total, the winger has posted 60 goals and 58 assists for 118 points in 288 AHL games, while racking up 441 PIMS. In 33 career postseason AHL matchups, DeFazio has scored two goals and recorded five assists with 12 penalty minutes.



Prior to his professional career, DeFazio skated for four seasons at Clarkson University where he registered 36-41=77 totals in 141 collegiate contests.



The 6'2'', 205-pound winger is from Oakville, ON. He was signed by the Canucks as a free agent on July 12, 2013.