The Boston Bruins have signed free-agent left wing Kevin Stevens to a reported $1 million a year contract for five years.

"We have notified Pittsburgh and the National Hockey League that we have received a signed offer sheet from Stevens," assistant general manager Mike Milbury said yesterday.

Pittsburgh has seven days to match the offer. If they choose not to match our offer, he will then become Bruins property and the Penguins will receive our first-round draft pick in each of the next five seasons," Milbury said.

Stevens, 26, had his best season in 1990-91 and helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup. He had 86 points (40 goals and 46 assists), the 21st best total in the league. The 6-ft. 3-in., 210-lb. forward led the NHL last year with 17 playoff goals.

A native of Brockton, Mass., Stevens was drafted by Los Angeles as the 108th pick overall in the 1983 draft out of Boston College. His rights were traded to Pittsburgh for Anders Hakansson on September 9, 1983. He split his first two pro seasons between Pittsburgh and the U.S. Olympic Team and then between the Penguins and their IHL Muskegon farm club.

The terms of the offer sheet were not disclosed, but WCVB-TV in Boston reported they included a five-year contract with more than a million per year.

"I'm real happy," Stevens told WCVB-TV. Praising both teams, he said, "It's a great situation; I can't lose in either place."

As for Pittsburgh's next move: "Right now it's hard to know what they're going to do and what they're feeling right now," Stevens said.

Milbury said the Bruins made the bid because the team was fearful some of the other teams would hire Stevens and he did not want the team to end up with "egg on our face."

Stevens career NHL totals are 86 goals, 92 assists and 178 points in 196 games.

Kevin Stevens

Position: Left Wing

Career Statistics

Goals: 92

Assists: 92

Points: 172