Bruins Lock Up McAvoy for Three Years

After much wondering and, let’s face it, some panic from those on the outside looking in, the Boston Bruins have come to terms with defenseman Charlie McAvoy. The signing was announced Sunday, September 15, 2019, while the first group of Bruins players were on the ice on fourth day of the main training camp. There were many who were convinced that the two sides would be unable to reach an agreement despite the constant comments to the contrary by the Bruins general manager Don Sweeney.

McAvoy debuted with the Bruins during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs in their first round against the Ottawa Senators where he dressed for six games and notched three assists. He then took off during his rookie year playing in 63 games where he recorded seven goals, 25 assists for 32 points. He ultimately earned the NESN 7th Player award at the end of the 2017-18 regular season for his stellar performance, ranking second among the team’s defenseman in both time on ice and scoring.

The three-year contract carries an annual NHL cap hit of $4.9 million for the Bruins, which is cap friendly to the team who is always right up against the annually set cap ceiling. And this deal allows the Bruins space to continue negotiations with Brandon Carlo.

“Obviously, we’re very pleased to announce that Charlie [McAvoy] has agreed to a three-year contract. I think I’ve said all along that the communication with the ORR group, particularly with Mike [Curran] and with Rick [Curran] has been outstanding. It’s been a long period of time, we’ve had discussions, every negotiation has some timeline,” Sweeney said after practice on Sunday. “We felt very comfortable that we eventually would find a common ground and we were fortunate that Charlie agrees and his group agrees. And I’m excited. I’ve looked at this as nothing other than well beyond three years as to what Charlie is going to play for the Boston Bruins. But we’re obviously excited that we got him back in group here, an important, important part of our hockey club this year, last year, and many years going forward. I appreciate the organization and their support to find the common ground.”

For McAvoy, after he thanked all those who had helped him both within the Boston Bruins organization and his family and agent, he kept returning to one major theme regardless of the questions that were asked.

“I’m just really excited to get back, now I can get committed to — not that I haven’t, but now I get to focus on my conditioning and my execution and getting back to being the best player I can be for the start of the season. We have a lot of motivation this year and obviously to just win one more game than last year. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but I think we are — I’m motivated, and I know everyone is, and I’m just really excited to be back.”

Perhaps the one thing he wasn’t so keen on was the attention he received when he stepped on the ice during the second group’s practice. While he likely expected the ovation from those who were in the stands, it was the response from the team that he would prefer not to experience again.

“I didn’t want that. I thought something like that would happen. I’m just thrilled to be back. Tomorrow, hopefully I don’t get a stick-tap. I just want to be one of the guys again,” McAvoy said.

He also admitted that what he prefers to do is to play hockey.

“We [McAvoy and Sweeney] were joking around today, I don’t know if I’m built for [contract negotiation], I just want to play hockey. And that’s the thing, is now I get to do that and I’m very happy about that,” he said with a huge smile.

So now the work truly begins, but McAvoy was around Boston throughout the summer and training with his teammates during the offseason. No one should think that he just showed up on Sunday to sign on the dotted line. And based on his repetition, he just wants to be the best he can be and work hard with the team that he calls home.