Bruins sign Charlie McAvoy

[RedOctober3829]

Officially official regarding Charlie McAvoy.

BOSTON - Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, April 10, that the team has signed Boston University defenseman Charlie McAvoy to a three-year entry-level contract, beginning with the 2016-17 season. McAvoy is expected to join Boston for Monday's practice at Warrior Ice Arena.

https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bs-ink-charlie-mcavoy-to-3-year-entry-level-contract/c-288640120

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Well, after 3 playoff games, what can you say about this kid? Remarkable combination of poise and skill. He looks like a legit #1 in waiting.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Well, after 3 playoff games, what can you say about this kid? Remarkable combination of poise and skill. He looks like a legit #1 in waiting.

In waiting?

All he needs is to hit a game winner, and he's getting a bust in Toronto.

(Never been to the hockey hof. Do they do busts?)

 

[Reardon's Beard]

He is playing like a #1 right now. Honest to God not sure there is any Bruins D-man I would rather have on the ice at a critical moment other than Z and it might even be a coin flip.

 

[The Napkin]

I was against his playing and burning a year. I was wrong. Go ahead and just sign him now for 15 years or so.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I was against his playing and burning a year. I was wrong. Go ahead and just sign him now for 15 years or so.

Pretty sure that is verboten in the current CBA.

But, yeah. I keep trying (and failing) to reign in my own hyperbole. Kid may be our next franchise cornerstone defenseman.

 

[ifmanis5]

In waiting?

All he needs is to hit a game winner, and he's getting a bust in Toronto.

(Never been to the hockey hof. Do they do busts?)

Nope, they get these...

In English et Francais. Mac's is already on order.

 

[twibnotes]

I was against his playing and burning a year. I was wrong. Go ahead and just sign him now for 15 years or so.

Weren't you right though? Why burn a year when they're not really contenders?

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Burn a year that doesn't get him closer to free agency (unrestricted or restricted)? That gives him exposure we've been tying to get for Pastrnak, Vatrano, C. Miller, and Spooner (oy) for three years? That gets him to play with Chara in the most intense type of games possible while Z still has some stature as a top-pairing guy?

I'll burn that year 100 times out of 100, and I doubt the FO has regrets there.

 

[kenneycb]

Not to mention it helps the FO moving forward knowing they have a young PMD that will slot in the top 4 next year. Don't have to do the wait and see approach from the start of this year when they carried Carlo, Cross, and O'Gara for the first week.

 

[twibnotes]

Burn a year that doesn't get him closer to free agency (unrestricted or restricted)? That gives him exposure we've been tying to get for Pastrnak, Vatrano, C. Miller, and Spooner (oy) for three years? That gets him to play with Chara in the most intense type of games possible while Z still has some stature as a top-pairing guy?

I'll burn that year 100 times out of 100, and I doubt the FO has regrets there.

Sure but it will affect the financials in a couple years, which is a big deal in a cap league.

I realize this is a unique circumstance (all the injuries, etc.), but if the Bruins knew what they had (and it seems they did), they had to be tempted to save him.

Seems far from a no brainer given that this year's team is not winning the cup.

 

[cshea]

Krug and Kevan Miller are the only defenseman signed when McAvoy will need a new contract, and it is the last year of both of those contracts (and Miller could be gone to Vegas anyways). Cap space won't be an issue. McAvoy also won't be eligible for an offer sheet coming out of this ELC so he has very little leverage.

As for them not winning a cup, going into the playoffs, most models had the Bruins having the 2nd or 3rd highest odds of winning. Now that they're down 3-1, it is easy to say they aren't going to win. I think heading into the playoffs the Bruins were correct to take a short term view and do everything to try and help this team win.

 

[lexrageorge]

There's not a single GM in the league that would not go all out to try to win a playoff series. And there's not a single GM that would decide their playoff team has no chance to win a Cup; we've recently seen #8 seeds win the trophy. Noone can realistically fault Sweeney for activating McAvoy once 3 defenseman went down with significant injuries. The Bruins should be able to work out the cap situation when the time comes to re-up McAvoy.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I think the impact of these "burn a year" deals on the ultimate bottom line is pretty minimal. They need to be re signed sooner, but without RFA rights and with less of a track record on which to base future salary requests.

They make me nervous because the Bruins have a recent track record of not getting guys signed beyond their ELCs (Kessel, Seguin, Hamilton).

On the other hand, they burned the year for Krug and did get him signed.

 

[kenneycb]

Seguin was signed beyond his deal, just got traded.

 

[TheRealness]

The experience McAvoy has received thus far, and the play he has provided, is much more beneficial to the Bruins long term. His performance in this series removes any doubt he will be in Boston next year, and that they will have to find a place for him. He is clearly ready, clearly one of their top 4 defenseman when everyone is healthy, and has proven that he belongs in just four games. It's quite remarkable what he has done so far, and this is the type of confidence booster that can have him hitting the ground running next season versus the Bruins trying to protect him either with minutes, or in Providence.

I am very pleased with the burned year. I believe this will pay huge dividends down the line, and will have a negligible effect on the Bruins ability to keep him long term (Neely's idiocy excluded).

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

The experience McAvoy has received thus far, and the play he has provided, is much more beneficial to the Bruins long term. His performance in this series removes any doubt he will be in Boston next year, and that they will have to find a place for him. He is clearly ready, clearly one of their top 4 defenseman when everyone is healthy, and has proven that he belongs in just four games. It's quite remarkable what he has done so far, and this is the type of confidence booster that can have him hitting the ground running next season versus the Bruins trying to protect him either with minutes, or in Providence.

I am very pleased with the burned year. I believe this will pay huge dividends down the line, and will have a negligible effect on the Bruins ability to keep him long term (Neely's idiocy excluded).

Not that the following is how things would have played out, but say they don't bring him up, and don't get that chance to see him excelling in this situation. Maybe they go into the summer with Chara, Krug, Miller, Miller, McQuaid, and Carlo under contract* and play it conservative and say "Boom, that's six," then throw in whoever as a scratchable #7 while letting McAvoy get some "seasoning" in Providence. Again, maybe that's ridiculous (you never know with this group), but SSS and all, he has left no doubt about his place on the roster, and it allows the FO to go about things a little bit more confidently this summer knowing that he's in the fold and 100% ready.

*Ignoring expansion business, of course.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Fixed this for you.

The experience McAvoy has received thus far, and the play he has provided, is much more beneficial to the Bruins long term. His performance in this series removes any doubt he will be in Boston next year, and that they will have to find a place for him. He is clearly ready, clearly one of their top 4 top 2 defenseman when everyone is healthy, and has proven that he belongs in just four games. It's quite remarkable what he has done so far, and this is the type of confidence booster that can have him hitting the ground running next season versus the Bruins trying to protect him either with minutes, or in Providence.

I am very pleased with the burned year. I believe this will pay huge dividends down the line, and will have a negligible effect on the Bruins ability to keep him long term (Neely's idiocy excluded).

 

[cshea]

Charlie's season continues. He's going to play for USA at the World Championships.

5 teams in one year- BU, USA Juniors, Providence, Boston, USA Men's.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Hopefully he spends some time trying to convince Bjork to come to Boston.