The Boston Bruins and Charlie McAvoy have found their number.
Just two days after team president Cam Neely let some talk of the negotiations slip, too, as the team has signed the franchise defenseman to an eight-year, $76 million extension, according to multiple reports and first reported by TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
The big-money deal, which will kick in beginning in 2022-23, comes with a $9.5 million cap hit, and is the richest contract in franchise history. McAvoy’s new cap hit will be tied with the Blackhawks’ Seth Jones for the fourth-highest cap hit among all NHL defensemen, trailing only San Jose’s Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million), the Kings’ Drew Doughty ($11 million), and Zach Werenski ($9.583 million) of the Blue Jackets.
McAvoy is coming off a 2021 campaign that featured five goals and 30 points, along with a plus-22 rating, in 51 games. The 2021 postseason was the 23-year-old’s big breakout party, too, as he posted one goal and 12 points in 11 games.
Drafted by the Bruins with the No. 14 overall pick in 2016, McAvoy has totaled 24 goals and 122 points in 235 NHL games, along with five goals and 32 points in 65 career playoff games, since jumping into the fire during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.