NHL training camps are fast approaching, and the Boston Bruins still don’t have a new contract for restricted free agent Charlie McAvoy. Perhaps news out of Columbus, however, will help the two sides inch toward a deal.
The Blue Jackets and RFA defenseman Zach Werenski came to terms on a three-year, $15 million contract on Monday, according to multiple reports. The new deal, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, will pay Werenski $4 million in each of the first two seasons before jumping to $7 million in the third year.
So, how does that affect McAvoy? Well, they’re fairly comparable players in similar situations, of course. Werenski, the No. 8 pick in the 2015 draft, just finished his third season on the Columbus blue line, playing all 82 games while scoring 11 goals and adding 33 assists.
McAvoy, a 2016 first-round pick, is coming off his second full season (he debut in the 2017 playoffs). He only appeared in 54 games in 2018-19, but his points-per-game rate would have put him at 43 points in an 82-game slate.
The Philadelphia Flyers find themselves in a similar situation with defenseman Ivan Provorov, who is also an unsigned RFA. TSN’s Frank Seravalli hinted at progress in those talks on a deal similar to that of Werenski’s pact with CBJ.
Werenski signing certainly helpful for Provorov and McAvoy on RFA front. #Flyers and Provorov's group have been active in conversation, sounds like that type of three-year term is also an option.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 9, 2019
All three, at their best, are first-pairing D-men, with McAvoy arguably the best of the bunch. But with the market finally coming into focus, it wouldn’t be shocking to see progress made toward a deal as camp gets underway for the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Once the McAvoy domino falls, it’s fair to assume the Bruins could get a deal done with their other RFA defenseman, Brandon Carlo, who also remains unsigned.
UPDATE (2:40 p.m. ET): Some likely informed speculation from TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Werenski deal could be a catalyst for McAvoy and Provorov, but no guarantee either. Of the two big RFA D, McAvoy has proclaimed his love for BOS and it would appear he’s much more inclined to want to a longer-term deal (6, 7 or 8?) than a bridge (2 or 3).
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) September 9, 2019
