The Boston Bruins locked up one of their rising young forwards to a new contract extension but it could also put them in a tight squeeze for next season's payroll. 

Rugged power forward Milan Lucic, who was eligible for restricted free agency next summer, re-signed a three-year, $12.25 million contract extension with the Bruins, which counts as $4.083 million per season against their cap starting in 2010-11. 

It's a worthwhile signing by the Bruins as the 21-year-old Lucic is a growing force as a power forward and could become one of the best in the league over the next three-five seasons, and it was best for management to get him under contract now rather than risk a potential contract hassle similar to that they had with winger Phil Kessel, whom they wound up shipping to the