BOSTON -- The news that teammate Andrew Ference received a three-year contract extension from the Boston Bruins was well-received in the locker room after the team’s game-day skate Thursday morning at the Garden.

The oft-injured Ference, 31, will earn $6.75 million over the next three seasons in Boston.

“He’s been a pretty reliable defenseman when he’s played for us,” coach Claude Julien said. “Good for him that he’s come to agreement. He certainly gives us some stability and experience back there. He’s also a good leader, and barring injuries he’s been dependable.”

Fellow Bruins defensemen Mark Stuart and Johnny Boychuk will be restricted free agents after this season, and while they both hope to re-sign with Boston, they said they’re not worried about contracts at this point of the year.

“Hopefully they’re going to re-sign me because I love it here,” said Boychuk. “It’s out of my hands and you can’t worry about it."

Boychuk and Stuart both said there haven’t been any contract talks with the Bruins at this point.

Ference “is a good teammate and a good player,” said Stuart. “He’s a good player to lock up. I’m just playing right now. I’m not going to worry about it. If I do my job, hopefully stuff will take care of itself. This is the place where I want to stay, for sure. We’ll see, but I’m just worried about winning games and making the playoffs. Individual stuff you worry about in the summer.”