Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli is wasting little time getting his free agents under contract for next season.

One week after re-signing forward Chuck Kobasew to a new contract, the Bruins announced the re-signing of veteran defenseman Aaron Ward to a two-year, $5 million contract extension, which breaks down as $2.5 million per season against the Bruins cap.

Since joining the Bruins at the February 2007 trade deadline in a deal that saw Paul Mara shipped to the New York Rangers, the 35-year-old Ward has provided the Bruins defense corps with a much-needed physical defensive presence and leadership.

A member of three Stanley Cup championship teams in his career, two with Detroit and one with Carolina, Ward’s best season was the 2005-06 season, where in the playoffs his hard-nosed defensive play, particularly his shot-blocking, helped the Hurricanes win their first-ever Stanley Cup.

His style of play and his active work in the local community has made Ward a fan favorite in Boston, and the fact that he took a slight pay cut (he earned $2.75 million last season) to remain with the Bruins should only further bolster his popularity among the Bruins faithful.

 Ward’s experience and leadership should continue to make him a valuable addition to a rebuilding Bruins team which took a substantial leap in their development with a surprise appearance in the 2008 playoffs, where they pushed the first overall Montreal Canadiens to the limit before falling in seven games in the first round.

This was a good, affordable signing by Chiarelli and should continue to pay dividends for the Bruins over the next two years.