Bruins, Charlie McAvoy agree to eight-year, $76 million extension

The Boston Bruins have reeled in defenseman Charlie McAvoy for his remaining years in his 20s and into his early 30s.

Per ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the Bruins and the 23-year-old agreed to an eight-year, $76 million contract extension that will give McAvoy the biggest deal in franchise history. Kaplan reported that McAvoy was slated to be a restricted free agent after this season and is in the final year of a "three-year bridge deal" that paid him $4.9 million annually.

McAvoy was selected by the Bruins with the 14th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and was a First-Team All-Rookie in 2018. When longtime Boston defenseman and seven-time All-Star Zdeno Chara left the Bruins following the 2019-2020 campaign, McAvoy became the main guy on defense.

The Boston University Terriers product led the team in ice time last season at 23:59 per game, while adding five goals and 25 assists over 51 contests and finishing fifth in Norris Trophy voting.