Bruins, Charlie McAvoy Agree On Eight-Year Contract Extension

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins have locked up their No. 1 defenseman for a very long time.

Just days after Cam Neely told the media that the Bruins were working on a deal with Charlie McAvoy, Boston has signed the blue liner to the biggest deal in franchise history. McAvoy and the Bruins have agreed to an eight-year extension, the team announced Friday morning.

Prior to Boston announcing the deal, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported that the eight-year agreement is for $9.5 million annually.

McAvoy had been entering the final season of his three-year contract that paid him $4.9 million per year. He now has the richest contract in Bruins history, in terms of total value and average annual value.

Still just 23 years old, McAvoy is entering his fifth NHL season -- his sixth if you count his debut in the 2017 postseason as a 19-year-old. A first-round pick by Boston in 2016, McAvoy averaged 24 minutes of ice time per game last year, scoring five goals with 25 assists with a plus-22 rating. He finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting, and averaged 26:39 of ice time during the Bruins' playoff run, registering a goal and 11 assists for 12 points in 11 games.

McAvoy has played in 235 career NHL games with Boston, totaling 24 goals and 98 assists for 122 points. In 65 career playoff games with the Bruins, McAvoy has recorded five goals and 27 assists for 32 points.

Since making his debut, McAvoy is second among NHL defensemen in plus-minus at plus-80.

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