(Photo: Bridget Samuels/Ikeastan Hockey) According to Bob McKenzie and Craig Custance, Bruins forward Shawn Thornton has signed a 2-year contract extension with the Black and Gold

BOSTON — Even after the trade deadline, GM Peter Chiarelli continues to be busy.

As first reported by ESPN.com’s Craig Custance on Twitter (@CraigCustance) and later confirmed by TSN’s Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie), the Boston Bruins have given forward Shawn Thornton a 2-year contract extension worth $1.1 million per season, a bump from his current contract worth $800k.

With the signing, the Bruins now officially have 16 players under contract and over $56 million under contract for the 2012-13 season. With the salary cap expected to go over $64 million — pending the approval of the next CBA before the start of next season — that would give roughly about $8 million in cap space to lock up pending free agents, including Tuukka Rask (RFA), Chris Kelly, Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille — all UFA’s — just to name a few.