Dafoe Ends Long Holdout, Signing Deal With Bruins

Boston Bruin goaltender Byron Dafoe ended his holdout Friday, signing a three-year contract that could have him back in goal as soon as next week.

“Four or five practices and I should be ready to go,” said Dafoe, who has been skating every day on his own in preparation for his anticipated return. “I want to play as soon as possible, and I want to make sure that I’m at the highest level before I enter a game.”

Negotiations have been stalled for months. But as the season progressed Dafoe felt an urgency that led him to call General Manager Harry Sinden on Friday morning to request a meeting. After 40 minutes, the two had a deal.

“If it wasn’t going to get done in a day or two, I was going to look elsewhere,” Dafoe said during an afternoon news conference. “I called up Harry today and came in and got the deal done.”

The value of the contract was not immediately available.

Dafoe originally asked for a three-year contract worth $4 million annually, but he has since lowered his number. The team had not improved from its offer of $3.15 million--going backward, in fact, to $3 million-- but did offer Dafoe a second chance at arbitration.

“We’re glad that what turned out to be a bit of an ordeal for all of us is over,” Sinden said.

“Amen to that,” Dafoe said.

“We both extended ourselves more than we initially felt we would,” he said. “We’re both happy.”

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With Kevin Weekes doubtful for tonight’s game because of a knee injury, the Vancouver Canucks obtained goaltender Corey Schwab from the Atlanta Thrashers in a trade. Weekes, starting in place of Garth Snow, who has been sidelined since Oct. 13 with a broken finger, left Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Phoenix early in the first period with a “twinge” in his right knee. . . . The Tampa Bay Lightning claimed center Steve Martins off waivers from the Ottawa Senators. Martins, 27, played in a career-high 36 games with Ottawa last season, scoring four goals and three assists. He played two games with the Senators this season, scoring one goal.