Charlie McAvoy Signs Three-Year ELC, Will Play In First Round

After the Boston Bruins lost both Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo in the last few games of the regular season, they’ve now been forced into something they hoped to avoid. Charlie McAvoy is at Bruins practice, and has signed a three-year, entry-level deal that will start this season.

McAvoy and the Bruins had been negotiating back and forth on whether to sign his deal for this season (2016-17) or start it next year (2017-18). He’s been playing on an amateur tryout with the Providence Bruins, where the team could make sure he was ready for the next step. Now, with the injuries that have befallen them in the last few days they have no choice but to get him under contract and insert him into the lineup.

The Bruins open their series on the road against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, meaning McAvoy needed to be officially signed and activated by then. Krug was injured last week and seen with crutches, while Carlo suffered an upper-body injury after being run into the corner by Alex Ovechkin on Saturday night. Those two have likely been the Bruins best defenders this year, despite Carlo’s young age and relative inexperience. While it is not guaranteed that they won’t be able to go for Game 1, it does not look likely.

McAvoy was the Bruins first-round pick this past summer, going 14th overall before heading back to Boston University for his sophomore season. He put up another solid offensive year, while again showing that he can handle himself in the defensive end. One of the young defender’s best talents is his cool demeanor under pressure, easily collecting loose pucks and moving them out of the zone. While debuting in the playoffs would be a tough ask of anyone, McAvoy seems primed and ready for NHL action and should be able to impact the game positively.

Bob McKenzie of TSN was first to report that the team would sign him and activate him Monday, while Aaron Ward of TSN reported that he was at Bruins practice.