It looks like the Boston Bruins are ready to start talking numbers with their top young defenceman.
According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, Charlie McAvoy is looking to sign a long-term deal now that he’s on the final year of his entry-level contract and thus eligible to chat with management on a new pact.
“He’d love to avoid the bridge contract,” Kypreos said during Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada. “I think it’s safe to say that his representation will look towards the Aaron Ekblad contract extension with the Florida Panthers that had an [average annual value] of $7.5 million.”
Ekblad signed that extension on July 1, 2016 — the first day he was able to re-up with the Panthers.
“With an aging Chara, it’s certainly something for the Boston Bruins to consider,” Kypreos said.
McAvoy, 20, has been excellent during his time with Boston so far. He put together an impressive rookie campaign on the Bruins’ blue line last season, registering seven goals and 32 points in 63 games while logging over 22 minutes of ice time per game — just shy of iron man Zdeno Chara‘s workload.
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