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BHN Puck Links: Boston Bruins Keep Watching Defensemen Market Spike

Published

3 years ago

August 7, 2021

As we’ve remarked before, Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is going to be paid when his current contract is up following this coming 2021-22 NHL season. That much was already obvious based on the $7.3 million base salary that he’s going to be paid for the coming season as he approaches restricted free agency once again, but this time with arbitration rights.

It was just as obvious with the performance that the 23-year-old posted last season that left him top-5 in the Norris Trophy voting and standing at the end as Boston’s best player (12 points in 11 games, 26:43 of ice time per game) during their two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But now there are more young No. 1 defenseman signing contracts that aren’t even at McAvoy’s level, like Darnell Nurse with his eight-year, $74 million deal ($9.25 million cap hit) and Colorado’s Cale Makar signed a six-year, $54 million ($9 million cap hit) contract this week as well.

The defenseman contracts led to this tweet from FOH Kevin Weekes, which sums up the B’s situation with Charlie McAvoy pretty perfectly.

Per many of the comments re new contracts signed by defensemen…you can’t buy champagne with beer money. Discounts aren’t applicable to top tier performers. @ESPN @NHLNetwork @NHL #HockeyTwitter

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) August 7, 2021

There isn’t going to be any hometown discount for the Bruins with McAvoy and it’s going to blow the Boston Bruins team salary structure apart. Even with Patrice Bergeron looking at a new contract following this season, the expectation is that McAvoy is going to be the highest paid player on the Boston Bruins following this season with David Pastrnak due for a new deal in a couple of seasons as well.

This week’s batch of new contracts for NHL defensemen have just hammered home the point that Boston’s McAvoy bill is coming due.

Now on to the BHN Puck Links:

*Speaking of the Bruins, my partner-in-crime Jimmy Murphy wonders if Christian Dvorak is going to eventually be the answer for Boston’s seemingly vacant spot for a No. 2 center with David Krejci back in the Czech Republic. (Boston Hockey Now)

*In honor of Sidney Crosby’s birthday, it’s a look at the top-5 moments from his storied NHL career. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

*The Philadelphia Flyers and defenseman Travis Sanheim have agreed to an Aug. 26 arbitration date, but will they come to contract terms before that? (Philly Hockey Now)

*Professor Kevin Allen gets out his grader and rates the offseason moves for Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman. (Detroit Hockey Now)

*Jake Virtanen’s agent has made a lengthy statement that gives his client’s side of the story concerning sexual assault allegations. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

*Speaking of sexual assault allegations, it feels like more and more that Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is going to have to answer some very difficult questions about what he knew and when he knew it concerning sexual assault allegations raised by a couple of his former players. (TSN)

*Here’s a look at the financial picture for the NHL as they approach some lean years ahead, even if it might end up being a little better than expected. (The Athletic)

*For something completely different: What a catch by San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski that looks just like his grandfather when he makes plays like that.