The Boston Bruins announced Friday October 15, 2021 that they have signed Defenseman Charlie McAvoy to the maximum allowable 8-year contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million. Some would say that McAvoy didn’t give the Bruins a discount with this deal. I beg to differ, although it’s not as much of a discount as I expected.
The Bruins also did something with the McAvoy deal rarely done by them and that is agree to a contract that is heavy in signing bonuses. The contract reportedly breaks down as follows (per: PuckPedia)
| YEAR | SALARY | SIGNING BONUS |
| Year 1 | $6,000,000 | $3,250,000 |
| Year 2 | $7,750,000 | $3,250,000 |
| Year 3 | $8,500,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Year 4 | $8,500,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Year 5 | $6,000,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Year 6 | $3,750,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Year 7 | $4,500,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Year 8 | $4,500,000 | $3,000,000 |
So, where does that leave the Bruins in the cap world beginning with next season? After the McAvoy signing, the Bruins have $11,070,833 in cap space for 2022-2023. Captain Patrice Bergeron is the big piece requiring a signature to a contract.
Jake DeBrusk will need a new deal as well but is a restricted free agent with arbitration eligibility as is Jakub Zboril, Karson Kuhlman, Nick Wolff and Cameron Hughes but yours truly sees them all coming in under $1 million cap hit with the exception of DeBrusk.
Jack Studnicka leads the group of restricted free agents without arbitration eligibility. His deal will likely be in the neighborhood of the Trent Frederic deal. And there are a number of unrestricted free agents that won’t be returning.
The McAvoy signing should not have an impact on the Bruins camp and they are in a good position moving forward.
But, now for the wrinkle (there is always a wrinkle). Both Bruins President Cam Neely and General Manager Don Sweeney have said the door remains open for both David Krejci and Tuukka Rask if they want to return to the Bruins. And they have said as much as late as this week.
If that involves the 2022-2023 season, and in the case of Krejci it might be the only scenario, then they’ll need to find some money.
In the meantime, congrats to Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins have yet another franchise defensemen for the long haul.
Dom - Hockey 