Defenseman Charlie McAvoy is sticking in Boston and has signed the richest deal in franchise history with an eight-year, $76 million contract extension completed on Friday. It’s an extension that will offer the Bruins McAvoy’s best years in the league and if he maintains where he’s at now, he’ll be worth every penny.
Related: Bruins on Verge of Signing Charlie McAvoy to Huge Extension
An elite two-way defenceman, he might be one of the best blueliners in the NHL at 5v5 play. He doesn’t do much on the power play which could explain why he doesn’t get more attention, but he’s outstanding at both ends of the ice in every other situation.
With big deals being handed out to defensemen this summer, McAvoy’s isn’t immune to criticism. Some are arguing the $9.5 million AAV is incredibly high for a player who has never scored more than 32 points in a season. It is a lot of money if you value points as the top criteria for how much a minute-munching defenseman should be worth. In his four seasons with the Bruins, McAvoy has 122 points in 235 games.
McAvoy, 23, is entering the final year of his current deal, which carries a $4.9 million cap hit and is a considerable bargain. His new deal breaks down as follows:
Salary/signing bonus:
- 22-23: $6M/ $3.25M
- 23-24: $7.75M/$3.25M
- 24-25: $8.5M/$3M
- 25-26: $8.5M/$3M
- 26-27: $6M/$4M
- 27-28: $3.75M/$4M
- 28-29: $4.5M/$3M
- 29-30: $4.5M/$3M
McAvoy finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting last season.
What Next for the Bruins?
McAvoy’s contract, while a good value, means some decisions moving forward. This is the first real deal that blows the “internal cap” the Bruins had set in previous years for any one player out of the water and it doesn’t give them much room to make mistakes on other contracts moving forward.
For example, Jake DeBrusk will be a restricted free agent after this season and either needs a new deal or to be moved. Patrice Bergeron will be offered a new deal as an unrestricted free agent, but the length of that deal will be important.
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