ESPN NHL

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Thrashers re-signed forward Eric Boulton, an unrestricted free agent, to a multiyear deal on Wednesday.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the deal is for two years, $1.2 million, a raise of $75,000.

The 31-year-old Boulton played in a career-high 74 games last season. He led the team with 127 penalty minutes and matched career-highs with four goals, five assists and nine points.

Boulton has played seven seasons in the NHL with Buffalo and Atlanta. The native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, signed with Atlanta as a free agent on Aug. 8, 2005.

"It's nice. We like it here. We wanted to stay here," Boulton told the Journal-Constitution. "I think Atlanta is getting a bad rap right now [from other NHL players]. Our fans are fantastic. You can't ask for a better city to raise a family in."

The Thrashers also signed three other unrestricted free agents: forwards Junior Lessard, Grant Stevenson and Mike Hoffman.

The 28-year-old Lessard had a goal and an assist in 19 games with Tampa Bay last season after he was acquired from Dallas on Jan. 18.

Stevenson played in 47 games with San Jose in the 2005-06 season, getting 22 points (10 goals and 12 assists).

Hoffman had eight points in 38 games in an injury-shortened season with AHL Portland.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.