[Signing] Bruins sign McAvoy (3 yrs, $4.9 million AAV)

[TheScorpion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1173237255906967552

worth noting that McAvoy didn't have any arb or offer sheet rights as a 10.2(c) player

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

https://twitter.com/user/status/1173237255906967552

worth noting that McAvoy didn't have any arb or offer sheet rights as a 10.2(c) player

Good deal for both parties.

That QO is going to hurt in a few years though if ever they cannot strike a deal beforehand.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

Good deal for both parties.

That QO is going to hurt in a few years though if ever they cannot strike a deal beforehand.

If McAvoy keeps improving and RFA salaries keep growing at the current rate, the AAV of his next contract will be higher than 7.3 anyway

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

Good deal for both parties.

That QO is going to hurt in a few years though if ever they cannot strike a deal beforehand.

I don't know... $7.3M isn't the end of the world.

But I agree with the general point - especially when people start talking about 3-year deals with a final year of $9 or $10M. Those are suicide deals for the team.

[bubbsy]

That is a great deal.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I think McAvoy is probably a better player than Werenski, so this seems like a good deal for the Bruins. The dominoes are falling at last... now all that remains to be seen is which of the wingers go next after Marner. Hopefully Tkachuk's done soon.

[transplant99]

Confirmed Contract Breakdown:
2019-20: $1.2M base salary, $2.5M signing bonus
2020-21: $2.7M base salary, $1M signing bonus
2021-22: $7.3M base salary

[agulati]

Good deal for the Bruins. 3 years down the road 37 year old Bergeron will be coming of his contract. Krejci and Backes current deals will be off the books in a couple years a as well, so the Bruins will potentially have more money to play with and give McAvoy a bigger contract.

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah these deals that get a player to one final year of RFA service with a big QO might not be so bad. You still get the RFA years at an okay price and a chance to do another deal before the player is unrestricted.

If you have 3 years to let other contracts come off the books and project MacAvoy as needing a big bump you should be able to get that done. Great deal for a team that is in win now mode.

[Macho0978]

These types of contracts would be risky if players were signing 6-8 year deals at reasonable prices. So many look at PK Subban's bridge and point how that burnt the Habs and they could have got him long term between 5 and 6 rather than a bridge deal followed by 9 mil

Things have changed, these RFA's are getting terrible contracts and signing UFA value and getting it done for less than 7 or 8 years and with huge signing bonuses. The teams going with these 3 or 4 year deals and a very favourable cap hit are coming out way ahead. I really don't see how the Leafs can be good despite having Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander locked up for 5 years. Even if the cap goes up huge in the next 5 years there are other teams set up better.

[SportsJunky]

Heck of a player. Nice signing.

[SebC]

Regarding the "poison pill QO" deal structure. Could the teams not take the players to arbitration to retain their rights a lower rate if the player does not achieve the level set up by his deal?

[agulati]

Originally Posted by SebC

Regarding the "poison pill QO" deal structure. Could the teams not take the players to arbitration to retain their rights a lower rate if the player does not achieve the level set up by his deal?

My understanding is that for arbitration, the player still needs to be qualified at his QO. Also an arbitration only can be for a year or two. So it will either walk these players to free agency or buy a year. The lowest price will be the QO. Not an ideal situation for most teams.

P.S. I might be wrong in my understanding of arbitration requirements though.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by SebC

Regarding the "poison pill QO" deal structure. Could the teams not take the players to arbitration to retain their rights a lower rate if the player does not achieve the level set up by his deal?

Yes, a team can choose to file for salary arbitration rather than make the qualifying offer if the QO would be greater than $1.75 million (relative to 2013-14, this number increases as the average NHL salary increases over time).

If a team files for this sort of salary arbitration, the arbitrator can't give the player less than 85% of the QO. In McAvoy's case, that would mean the minimum arbitration award would be $6.205 million.

[GirlySports]

Good deal 3M less than Spurgeon.

[Enoch Root]

I would think that if you first give a player a bridge deal, then don't make the qualifying offer but take them to arbitration, the relationship would be very strained at that point. Almost a given that they would test free agency after that.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Good deal 3M less than Spurgeon.

Apples and oranges though.

[pepper24]

I wonder we could see Tkachuk getting similar on a 3 year deal.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by pepper24

I wonder we could see Tkachuk getting similar on a 3 year deal.

The format might be similar, with a much higher 3rd year, but the numbers will be quite a bit higher.

In fact, I expect that is the most likely type of contract that will be signed. Gives Calgary a manageable cap hit for 3 years and guarantees Tkachuk a pretty big future bump, with keeping his UFA negotiating window open.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

The format might be similar, with a much higher 3rd year, but the numbers will be quite a bit higher.

In fact, I expect that is the most likely type of contract that will be signed. Gives Calgary a manageable cap hit for 3 years and guarantees Tkachuk a pretty big future bump, with keeping his UFA negotiating window open.

McAvoy's points and usage for a Dman are pretty much in line with Tkachuk's usage and points for a forward IMO. 34th in defecemen PPG for McAvoy. 35th in fwd PPG for Tkachuk. Both young guys who have vaulted into big positions on their teams. In fact McAvoy is maybe higher in the Bruins depth chart than Tkachuk is in Calgary.