The Boston Bruins on Tuesday signed forward Tyler Seguin to a six-year contract extension worth an average of $5.75 million a year, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli announced. The deal starts after this season and runs through 2018-19.

Seguin, 20, drafted second overall by Boston in the first round of the 2010 NHL entry draft, was set to become a free agent after the upcoming season and had expressed a strong desire to stay in Boston.

"I've started my career here and I fell in love on my first visit," he said in a conference call Tuesday afternoon. "I'm a Bruin and I'm happy to be a part of this group of guys and I consider them my brothers and I'm happy to start a life here.

"It's a great feeling to know that Mr. Chiarelli and the organization have faith and trust in me and how they think I'm going to become and how I am. That's probably the best feeling you can really have. It's not only the years and the money but the feeling that the organization has trust in you, who you can become and who you are."

Seguin, who collected just 11 goals and 22 points in 74 games during his rookie season, had a breakout sophomore campaign in 2011-12. He led the team in goals with 29 and points with 67 and became the youngest player to hold the club's scoring title.

Seguin also was selected to play in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.

"He is maturing before our eyes and I feel that the hard work he's shown us and the willingness to put in that hard work continues and the sky's the limit for Tyler," Chiarelli said. "It's the second of a couple of deals we've done on extensions as we try to lock up our core in the face of the labor situation at this time. We feel very strongly at this time about our team. Part of this deal is projecting and we're projecting Tyler to be a terrific young player. So we're very happy to have him signed at this point in time."

Late last week, the Bruins locked up Brad Marchand to a four-year, $18 million contract extension. Marchand's deal was set to expire at the end of this season.