DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Brett Clark to a two-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season.

Clark, 30, set career highs with 82 games, 10 goals and 29 assists last season.

"Brett has been an instrumental part of our team's overall success," general manager Francois Giguere said Monday. "He's been a steady, dependable asset to our defensive group and we expect him to be a strong contributor to this club in the coming seasons.

Clark led he NHL in shifts per game with 35.1 last season, and he had 210 blocked shots, best on the team and fourth in the NHL.

He was the only Avalanche defenseman to appear in all 82 games last year and has played in 143 consecutive games, dating to Nov. 23, 2005.