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BOSTON -- While Bruins players enjoyed NESN's new all-access series “Behind the B” that aired the first of 13 episodes Monday night, there is a sense in the locker room that there will be an adjustment period with cameras rolling behind the scenes this season.

Bruins coach Claude Julien said he’ll be aware of the cameras but has no intention of changing his coaching style.

“I’m not going to lie, it does represent a bit of a challenge because we’re not used to having cameras everywhere following us, so there’s an adjustment there. But what’s important is to know when to trust that those people will do the right thing when it comes time to showing those things on TV for our fans.

“As a coach, if I go in there and I’m different, the players will read through that right away and I can’t do that. I’m going to be myself. I think the players have to be themselves. They’ve got to feel comfortable but there’s no doubt it’s going to be a bit of an adjustment at first until we get used to it a little bit more.”

The team has not yet released the schedule for the remaining 12 episodes, with each running 30 minutes in length.

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins have been a close group for the last few seasons, and it didn't take long for newcomers Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson to fit in.

The Bruins acquired Eriksson, along with prospects Matt Fraser, Reilly Smith and Joe Morrow, from the Dallas Stars in exchange for forwards Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley on July 4. The next day, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli signed Iginla as a free agent.

Now, two months later, both Eriksson and Iginla are ready to go in Boston as training camp officially began Wednesday morning with players’ physicals.

“I’m feeling good and ready to get going here,” Eriksson said.

After the trade, many Western Conference coaches described Eriksson as one of the most underrated players in the NHL, saying that he would fit perfectly into the Bruins’ style of play.

“That’s been going on for a couple of years, actually, with that underrated [classification],” Eriksson said. “I’m just glad to be here and I’m going to show them I’m a good player and it’s nice to come and play in this town. I’ve heard a lot of good things, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

With the team’s first on-ice session scheduled for Thursday, it appears he’ll be playing the right wing along with center Patrice Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand. Eriksson believes his style of play will compliment his new linemates.

“For sure that would help me a lot,” he said. “[Bergeron] is a good two-way player and he can make really good plays, too. It’ll be good to get going here and try to find some chemistry with everyone here and [Thursday’s] going to be a good skate.”

Iginla seemed comfortable in his new surroundings, too.

Both he and the organization have put aside last season’s trade deadline snafu when Iginla chose the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Bruins.

The future Hall of Famer will start camp playing on the team’s top line with center David Krejci and left winger Milan Lucic.

“I’m looking forward to it. They’ve been a great line and have great chemistry. I love that they play hard and compete hard and do a little bit of everything,” Iginla said. “Krejci’s a very smooth player and he just finds way to score or makes things happen. He’s a great passer and I like to shoot the puck, so you always love to play with a great passer. Looch is the best power forward in the game and as tough as they come, but also a smart player and creates a lot of room for his linemates, so I’m looking forward to that opportunity.”

Prior to his trade to the Penguins, Iginla spent his entire career with the Calgary Flames and was in his 10th season as captain. Coming to Boston, with a Bruins locker room filled with leaders, including captain Zdeno Chara, Bergeron, Chris Kelly and Shawn Thornton, Iginla only wants to fit in.

“I plan on just being myself,” he said. “I definitely don’t come in thinking that they need any leadership or help. They’re a very strong crew and have had a lot of success together and been together a long time and know each other well. I don’t want to be just a fly on the wall; I want to be part of it. The biggest thing is just play hard and compete and that’s what these guys do so well.”

WILMINGTON, Mass. -- Boston Bruins veterans and prospects participated in the final day of captain’s practice and rookie camp Tuesday at Ristuccia Arena as the organization prepares for the first official day of training camp on Wednesday at TD Garden.

On Tuesday, the players were talking about NESN’s new all-access series “Behind the B” that aired the first of 13 episodes Monday night. It was an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at many daily aspects of the Bruins, including why management decided to trade forward Tyler Seguin, how it felt when Nathan Horton decided to sign elsewhere and the feeling in the locker room at the team’s Game 6 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup. It also introduced newcomers Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson.

“I was on the edge of my seat,” said Bruins defenseman Torey Krug. “For the fans, it’s definitely an inside look at something they should take advantage of because we don’t even get to see that stuff. It’s definitely a lot of fun and I can’t wait to watch the next episode.”

Krug’s emergence from a non-drafted player to his significant contributions during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs was also featured in the first episode. Basically, the organization knew it would lose veteran defenseman Andrew Ference due to the decreased salary cap, but many in the hockey operations department felt Krug could have a similar impact in Boston as Ference did.

“That’s something that definitely hits home for me,” Krug said. “Growing up, character was something my dad always preached and Andrew Ference was a guy who was a perfect role model for that. To hear words like that come out of their mouth definitely hits home for me and it’s something I try to do and bring to the table. It’s always something you can keep working on.”

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli and his staff were candid and honest in their discussions about Seguin and Krug was asked his thoughts about those closed-door conversations being made public.

“You’re always wondering in the back of your head what they’re thinking and obviously all you can do is put your best foot forward and try to impress them and earn your spot in the lineup and help the team win,” Krug said. “That’s all you think about as a player and then to hear what actually goes on behind the scenes, and to hear what they say makes you realize there’s a lot more that goes into it and makes you realize it’s a business. It’s impressive. They make a lot of hard decisions and I give them a lot of credit. Obviously, you see the way Mr. Chiarelli handles it, and the leadership in him is impressive as well. It was great to watch. I can’t wait to watch more.”

Bruins fans were also introduced to the team’s strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides. He’s been with the Bruins for 11 seasons and the players -- both past and present -- sing his praises, but also know he’s a no-nonsense guy.

During episode 1, Whitesides has the most entertaining segment while he’s pounding the organization’s rookies into submission during development camp last July. Whitesides dropped plenty of F-bombs during his speeches to the rookies.

“That was the most entertaining part,” Krug said. “He’s awesome. He definitely brings energy any time he walks into the room. He’s great. I’m glad we have him on our side because he makes sure nobody’s sleeping when they’re walking into the rink.”

At one point, he punishes goaltender Malcolm Subban for being late. After Tuesday’s on-ice workout, Subban said he did not see the first episode but he heard all about it on Twitter. When asked what his impressions are of Whitesides, Subban smiled.

“He’s good. He means well,” Subban said. “He’s a good guy and he just wants to make sure everyone is focused here and he doesn’t want anyone to make the mistakes of coming in and missing out on anything. He makes sure everyone is aware of what’s happening and I think it’s really good.”

The team has not yet released the schedule for the remaining 12 episodes, with each running 30 minutes in length.

BOLTON, Mass. -- Some notes from Bruins coach Claude Julien prior to the team's annual golf tournament Monday morning:

* During the organization’s rookie development camp in July, Julien addressed many of the changes made by general manager Peter Chiarelli. Nearly two months later, the coach is eager to put his new roster to work when camp begins Wednesday. Prior to teeing off, Julien was in a good mood and sounded ready for the season to start, especially given the way the 2013 season ended -- with a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals.

“We’ve got a good group here and I’m looking forward to make amends for our finish and would like to get another crack at it,” Julien said.

* While the core of the team remains intact from its 2011 Stanley Cup title, there are some different faces as the Bruins prepare for the 2013-14 season. The biggest competition to win a spot in the lineup will be on the team’s third line. Center Chris Kelly will have new wingers this season, and there’s even a possibility he could be on the wing himself. Kelly and fellow forward Carl Soderberg are both natural centermen, while wingers Jordan Caron, Matt Fraser, Craig Cunningham and Reilly Smith are all in the mix.

“It’ll be a good competition,” Julien said. “There are some spots open and we’ve talked about giving some young guys some opportunities. We’ve also got some new faces we got in those trades and those guys are going to be looked upon to help keep our team at the top of the league. There are a lot of new things here, new faces and obviously the situation of how we finished and where we want to be again. All those things give us good reasons to be motivated.”

* The top two lines will be similar to the last couple of seasons with only a few tweaks. David Krejci will center left wing Milan Lucic, along with the addition of either Jarome Iginla or Loui Eriksson on the right side. Patrice Bergeron will center Brad Marchand, along with either Iginla or Eriksson. Julien could decide to keep the team’s energy line of Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton intact, but there’s a possibility Paille could get a look on the third line.

* The Bruins enter camp relatively healthy as Bergeron and Campbell both say they’ll be ready for the start of the season on Oct. 3. Bergeron suffered a combination of injuries during Games 4, 5 and 6 of the Cup finals last spring, including torn rib cartilage, a broken rib on his left side, a separated right shoulder and a punctured lung that ended up collapsing and forced him to spend three days in the hospital. Campbell suffered a broken right fibula in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins and had surgery in which a plate and screws were inserted to help his right leg heal.

“Basically, they’ve recovered as scheduled and that’s a good sign,” Julien said. “There haven’t been any setbacks. For Patrice, he’s felt pretty good for a while, and with Gregory, it’s just a matter of making sure he allowed it to heal properly. We’ll continue to monitor those guys and make sure by the time the season starts they’ll have to be 100 percent to be in our lineup.”

Both players have been participating in the captain's practices and both played golf on Monday.

* During a press conference to announce his recent contract extension, Chiarelli was asked what he was most proud of during his seven-year tenure as GM. Chiarelli quickly answered, “Hiring Claude.”

Julien was asked for his thoughts of his boss’s comments prior to teeing off on Monday.

“Obviously, when you’re a coach you like hearing those things because our job security is very minimal,” Julien said. “It’s nice to see my boss is still happy with the job I’ve done and hopefully I can continue to do that and continue to make him happy.”

* Julien attended the Bruins’ rookie tournament that took place over the weekend in Coral Springs, Fla. Boston finished the three-game tourney with a 0-1-2 record against the Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning.

“It was a good tournament overall,” Julien said. “All of our games were close. We tied two and lost one, and the one we lost by a goal is a game we blew a 4-0 lead, so I think the young guys played hard, they played well. It was definitely a lot easier to watch those players play against other players and see them in a real game situation. I liked what I saw. There are a lot of young guys that are just turning pro that got a good taste of it before they got to the main camp. Overall, very positive.”

The Boston Bruins have created an intriguing television series called “Behind the B” and the first of 13 episodes did not disappoint.

NESN aired the premiere Monday night. It started with a great scene as coach Claude Julien addresses the team after its Game 6 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals.

Bruins players sat motionless and stunned in their locker room after giving up two goals in a span of 17 seconds late in the third period to lose the game and series. Julien told his team, “There’s nothing to be ashamed about.”

Julien added it was a tough way to finish the year and admitted that injuries were a key factor why the Bruins weren’t able to win their second title in a three-year span. He told his players not to forget the opportunity they earned and that they “did a hell of a job” and played their best hockey when it counted.

Witnessing what it was like for the players in the minutes following their loss was fascinating. From first-hand experience, it was nearly 30 minutes before members of the media were allowed into the Bruins locker room after Game 6 and most of the players were still sitting at their stalls in full uniform.

Later in the episode, we saw how Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli already began to prepare for the 2013-14 season before last season was complete. He spoke to his staff about the salary cap and it was quickly obvious that there would be certain players who would not return, including veteran defenseman Andrew Ference.

It also was obvious during the episode that the Bruins hockey operations staff believed there were “too many red flags” concerning forward Tyler Seguin and all agreed it was time to trade him.

At one point, assistant GM Jim Benning said, “We’re not babysitters.” He then added if Seguin gave the Bruins half of what the Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane gave Chicago, Boston would have won the Stanley Cup.

The thought of trading Seguin, the organization’s No. 2 overall pick in 2010, was compared to the Bruins trading former goalie Andrew Raycroft to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Tuukka Rask, and the Phil Kessel trade to the Maple Leafs for a pair of first-round picks that turned into Seguin and defenseman Dougie Hamilton.

Chiarelli, his staff and Bruins president Cam Neely concluded that Seguin did not fit into the team’s culture and decided to trade him for the right price.

Prior to the trade, Chiarelli learned via Twitter that free agent forward Nathan Horton chose not to re-sign with the Bruins and would sign elsewhere. Chiarelli made Horton an offseason priority and was clearly disappointed when he did not return.

“F--- me,” Chiarelli said after he got off the phone with Horton’s agent, Paul Krepelka.

The rest of the episode revolved around newcomers Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson, along with the organization’s rookie development camp. It ended with goaltender Tuukka Rask participating in the Deutsche Bank Championship pro-am event at TPC Boston.

If you’re a Bruins fan, this is hockey reality television at it best.

BOLTON, Mass. -- Despite some limitations, Boston Bruins forward Gregory Campbell has been able to skate on his surgically repaired right leg, and he’s hoping to be ready for the season opener on Oct. 3.

Campbell suffered a broken right fibula during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 5 at TD Garden. He blocked a slap shot from the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin during a Pittsburgh power play in the second period of a 2-1 double-overtime victory.

Campbell remained on the ice for more than a minute in obvious pain and helped the Bruins kill off the penalty, and that image quickly became part of sports lore in Boston.

With training camp beginning on Wednesday at Ristuccia Arena, Campbell will be able to participate in drills but says he still feels some discomfort.

“I’m going to feel it for a while,” he said. “If you’ve ever had a broken bone, I guess there’s a certain time frame where it’s expected to be fully healed but there are weeks and months after that you still feel the break. That’s where I’m at right now. I’m still going to feel it and I fully expect to feel it for a while now. As much as I can protect the area and make it as comfortable as possible, there’s still going to be some pain there that I’m going to have to live through.”

Campbell had a plate and screws inserted into his right leg to help the healing process. He said it took a while to get used to skating with the new hardware.

“That was something I initially felt and was a little bit surprised that I could feel it,” he said. “I guess it would be naive of me to think that I wouldn’t feel the screws and the plate when there was something rubbing against it.”

He’s been able to get used to it a little bit, but added there may be a possibility to have the screws surgically removed after the season is over.

“I’m hoping not to have it, but if that were the case then I’m sure it would be after the season next summer,” Campbell said.

Either way, he’s focused on the upcoming season and is thrilled to be back on the ice less than three months after he suffered the injury.

“I’m excited I’m back with the team and back on the ice,” Campbell said. “It’s a tough thing to sit out and watch the team play, so for me, it was a short summer but having said that, it was pretty difficult not being able to have my daily routine. I’m just happy to be participating with the team and hopefully going forward in the next couple of days I’ll feel well enough I can participate with the practices and see how that goes.”

During his summer rehab, even with a cast on his leg, Campbell attempted to work out as much as possible. Once he was given clearance to sweat, he would ride the stationary bike with one leg and tried to keep himself as fit as possible.

“Under the circumstances, I tried to watch my nutrition closely,” he said. “I knew that it would be a short offseason and I didn’t want to get behind too much.”

Admitting he’s a step behind his teammates, Campbell’s been skating as hard as he can during captain's practices.

“I’m trying to go 100 percent,” he said. “I’d say most of the guys are in top shape right now, so for me, I have to go at my own level and make sure I’m progressing in a way that’s going to benefit me in the long run. If there are things I don’t feel comfortable doing then I kind of hold back a little bit. I think I’m close. I don’t think I’m necessarily in game shape right now.”

Campbell has participated in captain’s practice three times already, and each time out he feels better. He’s added padding to his skate in order to make it more comfortable.

“When I’m off skates I barely feel it; it’s just when I put it in the skate is when that area is exposed and that’s been the most difficult,” he said.

BOLTON, Mass. -- Even though Boston Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron is still experiencing some “tenderness” in the rib area, he’s confident he’ll be healthy and ready for the start of training camp on Wednesday and will be 100 percent by the start of the season on Oct. 3.

It’s been less than three months since he suffered torn rib cartilage, a broken rib on his left side, a separated right shoulder and a punctured lung that ended up collapsing and forced him to spend three days in the hospital after the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals last June.

Bergeron, who signed an eight-year, $52 million extension this summer, suffered the torn rib cartilage in Game 4 of the finals, broke his rib in Game 5 and suffered the separated shoulder and punctured lung in Game 6.

Prior to teeing off as part of the annual Bruins golf tournament Monday morning at The International, Bergeron said he is looking forward to a new beginning.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” he said. “I’m still feeling some tenderness in the rib area but it’s been pretty good. I’ve been able to do most of my workouts and I’ve gone on the ice the last few weeks and felt good. I feel pretty confident I’ll be good for the start of camp and good for the season.”

Bergeron is not exactly sure whether it’s the cartilage or the rib that’s causing the soreness, but he should have a better idea after the players’ physicals that are scheduled for this week as part of camp.

While he’s already been on the ice this offseason, Bergeron joined his teammates at captains practice on Sunday for the first time at Ristuccia Arena. Even though he’s still feeling tender, Bergeron said he didn’t shy away from battle drills.

“I feel like things are moving along well and it’s all positive signs,” he said.

For the first five weeks after the season ended, Bergeron wasn’t allowed to do anything due to his lung. Now that he’s in full-fledged workouts, the only time he feels it is during core or rotational work.

“Honestly, it’s not bad,” he said. “Once is a while I’ll feel it but I don’t feel it’s setting me back at all. It’s just a matter of managing the pain and going through it. I think time will heal it and make it better.”

Doctors have told Bergeron the discomfort he’s been experiencing will eventually subside and that it shouldn’t hamper his preparation for the 2013-14 season.

During his rehab this summer, Bergeron said he didn’t spend too much time reflecting on last season because he wanted to focus his energy on the upcoming year. His dedication and determination to play in the final three games of the finals, despite his injuries, has become an afterthought for him.

“I don’t think I had time to actually think about that,” Bergeron said. “It was a quick summer and I was only worried about getting healthy, fully healthy and worrying about refocusing on next year and not having to think about that last series too much. It was obviously hard to swallow, hard to go through all of that and coming up short. I wanted to play and be there for my teammates and help them as much as possible. I feel all my teammates would have done the same thing.”

While Bergeron’s summer was busy -- in addition to getting healthy, he also got married and got his first tattoo -- Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli also was active remaking the team’s roster. The Bruins added Jarome Iginla via free agency and acquired forward Loui Eriksson, and three prospects, from the Dallas Stars in exchange for forwards Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley.

The Bruins also lost forward Nathan Horton, who signed as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. So when camp opens on Wednesday, the lineup will have a different feel to it.

“I think it’s a good thing we have some new blood and guys are excited to be here,” Bergeron said. “That being said, we have pretty much the same core, the same guys coming back. You’re looking forward to meeting the new guys, and the additions are great players and they’re going to help us tremendously on and off the ice.

“Iggy’s a great leader and a great player and he’s proven himself throughout his career. Loui’s a very underrated player and he’s going to help us a lot also. I’m looking forward to getting to know them. It will be a little bit of an adjustment, but they’re great players and it’s going to be positive for us.”

With the additions and a strong core returning, the Bruins have high expectations entering the season.

“It should motivate us a lot,” Bergeron said of falling in the Cup finals. “Every year that you don’t necessarily accomplish what you’re there for, it’s always extra motivation that should help you the next year. The previous year [2012] was different losing in the first round [to Washington] and it was a very bitter feeling, knowing we could have gone a lot further, but last year we went all the way but came up short.

“I think it hurts even more because you’re so close. Chicago played well, it was a couple of breaks here and there that made us lose, so refocusing is very important. You can’t think too much about last year, but we need to use that as motivation for sure.”

As for his first tattoo, Bergeron spent seven hours in one sitting getting what he calls his “protector” on the inside of his left biceps. It resembles a medieval knight with the saying “Master of my destiny” scrolled in French.

“I’ve always wanted one,” he said. “I just had to pull the trigger.”

BOSTON -- Get ready for Boston Bruins all-access television.

NESN will air the first of 13 episodes on its new series “Behind the B” on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. Actor, Worcester, Mass., native and Bruins fan Denis Leary will narrate the entire series.

The Bruins will give fans a behind-the-scenes look in the team’s locker room, executive boardroom and players’ homes throughout the entire season.

The first episode, a hour-long premiere, begins with Bruins coach Claude Julien addressing his players after the team’s Game 6 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2013 Stanley Cup finals. Also, team president Cam Neely, general manager Peter Chiarelli, assistant GM Jim Benning, along with others on the hockey operations staff, will be seen discussing sensitive roster moves in the boardroom.

Neely’s idea was to create something similar to the NHL’s popular series “24/7.” The remaining 12 episodes will be 30 minutes in length.

WILMINGTON, Mass. -- Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli recently said he’s expecting an influx of younger players to make contributions this upcoming season and beyond.

Defenseman Torey Krug, 22, is among that group of young players and he’s already given fans a sneak peak of what to expect. Injuries to key Boston defensemen during the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring allowed the Bruins to see how Krug would handle playing on such a big stage.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder was thrust into second round action against the New York Rangers and quickly proved crucial. Krug became a phenomenon in Boston when he scored four goals in five games against the Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Defensively, he was strong, too.

In the conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and in the Cup finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, Krug experienced the NHL at it finest. He dealt with a few growing pains along the way, but proved he can play at this level.

With the official start of training camp less than a week away on Sept. 11, Krug is among several players already participating in captain’s practices at Ristuccia Arena. When camp ends and the 2013-2014 regular season begins, Krug wants to remain in Boston and avoid a trip to the AHL. His goal is to become a top six defenseman for the Bruins, joining the likes of Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg, Adam McQuaid, Johnny Boychuk and Dougie Hamilton.

“That’s what I expect. That’s what I want to do,” Krug said. “My goal is to be on the team opening night and throughout the season, but management is the one making that decision, so I’m just going to keep my head down, remain confident and do what I do.”

After making his NHL debut with the Bruins in the final two regular season games of the 2011-2012 season, Krug returned to Michigan State to finish his classes and watched the Stanley Cup playoffs on television. During that offseason, he had the mindset he needed to get bigger and stronger in order to compete at the NHL level.

His experience during the 2013 playoffs and Stanley Cup run gave him a new perspective on his offseason workouts.

“This summer I changed a little bit,” he said. “I wanted to get more explosive. My style of game is all about explosiveness and my first three steps. Obviously, you always want to get stronger, so I also concentrated on that so I could battle with the bigger guys in front. That was pretty much what I concentrated on.

“Last year I had no idea what to expect going into my first pro camp. I went down to Providence and worked on whatever I could during the lockout. This summer coming into camp, it’s a little more exciting. I’m more comfortable in the room. With the group of guys in here it’s a family atmosphere. So, coming in I’m more comfortable and my confidence is high. I’m just going to keep my head down and go to work.”

A second-year pro, Krug has no idea what to expect from a full 82-game NHL season and the grind that comes along with it.

“It’s going to be different,” he said. “In Providence we played three games in a weekend then you have a whole week of practice to regroup. Here, you have three games in a week -- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday -- or whatever the schedule it. It’s a little bit different with less time on the ice for practice and development but you need to really make sure you take care of yourself.”

Given his success during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, the organization and its fans will expect similar contributions from Krug this season.

“Yeah, I’m OK with that,” he said with a smile. “I have those expectations of myself. Obviously, I’m not going to be scoring goals at that rate that I did in the playoffs, but that’s what I want to try to do. As long as I’m helping the team win that’s all I care about. That’s the reason I came to Boston to win a Stanley Cup and that’s the goal at the beginning of each season and that’s the way you have to approach every game.”

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins have a vision, and the organization has made it clear Peter Chiarelli will be the person who leads it into the future.

On Friday, the Bruins officially announced Chiarelli’s four-year contract extension through the 2017-2018 season. Under Chiarelli’s tenure as GM in Boston, the Bruins have reached the postseason in six of seven seasons, including a pair of trips to the finals and a Stanley Cup championship in 2011.

“He’s done a fantastic job as a GM since he’s been here and certainly deserves the extension,” said Bruins president Cam Neely. “We’ve made the postseason the last six years, and one of the things we talk about here, being a Boston Bruin is not just making the postseason, but competing for a Stanley Cup. We’ve been to the finals twice, won in 2011, and Pete’s done a really good job of keeping our core group together, identifying the core group, making sure we lock them up. He’s done a really good job of understanding the type of player our fan base really enjoys watching.”

While the Bruins have enjoyed perennial success, Chiarelli says he believes improvements can be made and his goal is to contend for a Cup each season.

"We will continue to have challenges as a team and that’s a good thing,” Chiarelli said. “Our challenges are now at a level that we compete for the Stanley Cup and we want to compete for the Stanley Cup every year. It’s my mandate, my charge to do that.”

Chiarelli, sporting his 2011 Stanley Cup ring during Friday morning’s press conference at TD Garden, believes this organization has achieved many of its goals in the last six seasons, but there’s more to come.

“We’re thrilled to have him and have him extended another four years, which gives him five more years with us,” Neely said.

ESPN Boston's Joe McDonald reported earlier Thursday that the Bruins and general manager Peter Chiarelli were close to a contract extension and the Bruins just made it official.

The B's announced a four-year extension with Chiarelli that will take him through the 2017-18 season.

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins and general manager Peter Chiarelli are close on a multi-year contract extension, according to a league source.

Chiarelli has one year remaining on his current deal.

“It’s not done yet, but it’s close,” said the source.

The Bruins have become a perennial winner under Chiarelli’s guidance since he was named GM prior to the 2006-2007 season. Along with coach Claude Julien, the Bruins have earned a postseason berth in each of the last six seasons, including a pair of trips to the finals and one Stanley Cup championship in 2011.

After Boston lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the finals last June, Bruins president Cam Neely said one of his offseason priorities would be to extend Chiarelli’s contract.

“He’s done a fantastic job here since he’s been here,” Neely said during the team’s exit meetings last June. “From when he came until now, there’s been a lot of player/personnel turnover, but we’ve kept the right guys and built from that.”

Even though there’s one season remaining on Chiarelli’s contract, the Bruins felt it was important to lock him up for the long term.

“Ideally, yeah,” Neely said. “He deserves it. He’s done a really good job here. He’s a good GM.”

The Boston Bruins announced Tuesday the promotion of Keith Gretzky to director of amateur scouting, and the hiring of former Bruins forward P.J. Axelsson as a European amateur scout and Keith Sullivan as an amateur scout.

Gretzky, the brother of Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, previously served as an amateur scout for the Bruins. He joined the organization in 2011.

Axelsson spent his entire 11-year NHL career with the Bruins. He scored 103 goals and added 184 assists for 287 points in 797 games for Boston. Even though he has not played since 2009, he's remained close with the organization and has attended games when he's in Boston.

Axelsson recently told current Bruins forward Shawn Thornton that the team is going to "love" fellow Swede and forward Loui Eriksson, who was acquired as part of the trade from the Dallas Stars in exchange for Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley on July 4.

Sullivan joins the Bruins as an amateur scout after spending four seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes and one season with the Winnipeg Jets. He spent last season as general manager of the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League.

Also, the Bruins announced the club has renewed its affiliation with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. This will be the second consecutive season the Bruins will be affiliated with the Stingrays.

MIDDLETON, Mass. -- Boston Bruins veteran forward Shawn Thornton has dedicated his charity work to his grandmother, who succumbed to a 14-year battle with Parkinson’s disease five years ago.

The Shawn Thornton Foundation held its fourth annual “Putts & Punches for Parkinson’s” charity golf tournament Monday at Ferncroft Country Club. The proceeds from the event will benefit the American Parkinson Disease Association and the Boston Bruins Foundation.

“It hits close to home. We were really tight and it was awful towards the end,” Thornton said of the disease and his relationship with his grandmother. “I’d walk out of there in tears sometimes after visiting her in the home. We got this started and it’s been getting bigger and bigger every year and this year is probably the biggest.”

He’s helped raise awareness and money for various charities during his career and finally launched his foundation last January. Since arriving in Boston in 2007 when he signed with the Bruins, Thornton has made the city his permanent home and takes pride in working with the community off the ice.

“I’m happy to be involved in the community,” he said. “I don’t think it’s too tough to be involved around here, and [I] try to do the hospital visits as much as possible, at least one or two a month, and with my foundation I’m a little bit busier now trying to set up events to raise money to give back.

“When your name is on something, you want it to be successful," he said. "Obviously, I take pride in the fact that I’m very involved in it and trying to make the most of it. There are a lot of people who have helped me in the community, too, and especially with my foundation and this tournament, there are a lot of people who have made my life a lot easier, so it’s nice to be able to give back to them a little, too.”

Teammates Tuukka Rask and Daniel Paille attended the event Monday.

“For myself, I haven’t done too much charity so far, so when I have a chance to come out and help out Shawn, or anybody else for that matter, it definitely makes you feel a little bit better about being able to participate and I’m happy to be here,” Paille said.

On the ice, Thornton is a fan favorite for his intensity and blue-collar style of hockey. He turns 37 on July 23 and has one year remaining on this contract with the Bruins.

“I’m going to play until they rip the skates off me and tell me I can’t anymore,” Thornton said. “I’m aware of how old I am, but I definitely don’t feel it. I think I’ve been fairly consistent the last few years. People probably have varying opinions on that, but I’ll show up and try to do everything in my power to continue to be in good shape and be ready to go for the start of the season and contribute in a positive way.

“I hate losing more than anyone and last year stung, and that will stick with me, for sure. I want to have a big year personally, but more, our team, I like the moves we’ve made and we’re built to be a good team and go a long ways, so I’d like to be a part of that,” he said.

MIDDLETON, Mass. -- Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask became the highest-paid player in franchise history this summer with his new eight-year deal worth $56 million, but he says no amount of money will change his mindset.

The 26-year-old netminder will enter the 2013-2014 season when training camp begins on Sept. 11 with no contract issues. He no longer needs to prove he can have success at this level. He only needs to concentrate on stopping the puck, and that should make things easier for him.

“Yes and no,” he said. “Yes, you’re always kind of trying to work yourself up and try to get yourself some kind of status in people's eyes, but every season you start from scratch and have to prove yourself again at some level. Obviously, it helps that you have a long contract and you can focus on your job and don’t worry about the contract every year. It helps in that way, but still every year is different and you have to be worth your money, no matter how much you make.”

After losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals, Rask returned to his native Finland and spent his downtime playing golf and tennis with friends and family. To him, it’s been a normal summer despite the shorter offseason.

He plans on getting back on the ice in a week or two, but he’s been in the gym working out and playing plenty of golf and tennis.

“Health-wise I’m feeling really good,” Rask said. “That’s always a plus.”

The one question entering training camp is who his backup will be, since Anton Khudobin signed with the Carolina Hurricanes last month. Providence Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg and recently signed Chad Johnson will vie for the backup role. Either way, Rask says he’s preparing for the season as he normally would.

“When you get yourself ready for the season, you always kind of plan to play 82 games,” he said. “I don’t think I can play in 50, 60, 70 games, and it all depends how you’re playing, too. I know [Svedberg], meeting him last year and seeing him practice, he’s a great goalie. I don’t know too much about Chad but I’ve heard he’s a really good goalie, a big guy. I’m sure whoever it will be, it’s going to be a good situation for us.”