Zach Werenski deal blueprint for Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo deals?
Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston: The new trend of “bridge deals” is this third-year kicker. We have seen it with the Pavel Zacha and Zach Werenski deals. Year 1 and Year 2 were a hair lower with the contract year boost.
The other parts of Boston’s core have taken lesser deals. David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Patrice Bergeron all took these market contracts before getting “the big one”. Fortunately or unfortunately for McAvoy, the market has been set. So, expecting a deal in the $5-$6 million AAV range should not surprise anyone. The term should be three seasons.
Kevin Paul-Dumont of the Boston Globe: Okay, there is this from Don Sweeney on his defensemen.
“We’re really hesitant to sign a player that goes right to free agency, without buying free agency,” Sweeney said during his rinkside chat following the conclusion of the club’s rookie tournament here with the Devils, Sabres, and Penguins. “So that would be the only term on those players that we’ve avoided — otherwise we have had discussions at every level.”
It looks like three-year deals may be in the offing for Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo. Carlo may get a season more but even that does not seem quite so certain. The only question is will both get done before the weekend?
Now, let’s add Torey Krug into the mix
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: Torey Krug makes $5.25 million going into the final year of a four-year deal. How much is he worth in next year’s UFA market? If he tests the market, that number is $8+ million AAV. Keep in mind that Boston has to slot Krug in along with Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo.
It is all about waiting on the market. Krug understands the business side of things and expects the questions to continue. Also, that is the same with Charlie McAvoy as well. That is the reality these defenseman face until they sign on the dotted line. Whether that dotted line is with Boston or eventually somewhere else is another question entirely.