Bruins, Charlie McAvoy Agree To Eight-Year Contract Extension

Charlie McAvoy has inked a long-term deal with the Boston Bruins that’ll make him one of the highest paid defenders in the league.

According to Bob McKenzie, McAvoy and the Bruins have agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $9,500,000 annually. McAvoy would have become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2021-22 season.

When McAvoy’s deal kicks in, he’ll be tied for the fourth-highest cap hit in the NHL among defensemen with Seth Jones, who inked a long-term deal with the Chicago Blackhawks this summer. The only defenders with a larger annual cap hit than McAvoy’s new deal are Erik Karlsson ($11,500,000), Drew Doughty ($11,000,000), and Zach Werenski ($9,583,333).

McAvoy’s deal features a larger annual salary than 2021 Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar’s deal ($9,000,000), but his deal is only for six years, meaning he’ll be able to test unrestricted free agency at a younger age.

Drafted with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2016 draft, McAvoy broke into the NHL during the 2017 playoffs with the Bruins after spending the 2016-17 season with Boston University. In his first full season in the NHL in 2017-18, McAvoy scored 32 points in 63 games and finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting.

Last season was the best of McAvoy’s career. He scored 30 points over 51 games, which put him on pace for a career-high over a normal schedule, and he logged 24:00 per game, a tick-up to help the Bruins compensate for the departure of Zdeno Chara. McAvoy would finish fifth in Norris Trophy voting.

The Bruins still have a few key free agents to deal with on the horizon. Jake DeBrusk is a restricted free agent at the end of the season while captain Patrice Bergeron is an unrestricted free agent next summer.