Charlie McAvoy

Lore & Background

McAvoy grew up in Long Beach, New York, as a New York Rangers fan despite being surrounded by Islanders supporters; his family's plumbing business served several Rangers players. He attended Long Beach High School for one year before moving to Michigan to join the USA Hockey developmental team. McAvoy played college hockey at Boston University, where he was paired with future NHL defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. He won a gold medal at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships and a bronze at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

McAvoy signed an amateur try-out with the Providence Bruins on March 29, 2017, and an entry-level NHL contract on April 10, 2017. His first NHL game was a playoff victory over the Ottawa Senators on April 12, 2017. In his regular season debut on October 5, 2017, he recorded a goal and an assist. On December 18, 2017, he scored a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He underwent an ablative procedure for supraventricular tachycardia in January 2018 and returned to play on February 3, 2018.

McAvoy missed 20 games in the 2018–19 season due to a concussion and was suspended one playoff game for an illegal check to the head. He signed a three-year, $14.7 million contract as a restricted free agent on September 15, 2019. In the 2020–21 season, after Zdeno Chára and Torey Krug left in free agency, McAvoy became the top defenseman on the Bruins roster. He signed an eight-year, $76 million contract extension on October 15, 2021, then the largest in Bruins history. He underwent shoulder surgery in June 2022 and missed the start of the 2022–23 season, returning on November 10, 2022.

Reader's Guide

Charlie McAvoy entered the NHL directly into the playoffs in 2017, playing heavy minutes for an injury-depleted Bruins defense and earning praise from Bobby Orr. His rookie season included a Gordie Howe hat trick and a playoff overtime goal, and he finished fifth in Calder Memorial Trophy voting. McAvoy's development as a top-pairing defenseman accelerated after the departures of Chára and Krug, and he finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting in 2021–22. His eight-year, $76 million contract reflected his status as a cornerstone of the franchise. McAvoy's career has been marked by both offensive production—career highs of 10 goals and 46 assists in 2021–22—and defensive responsibility, as he led the Bruins in time-on-ice during the 2021 playoffs. He was part of the Bruins team that set NHL single-season records with 65 wins and 135 points in 2022–23. His tenure has included multiple playoff runs, including a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2019.

Did You Know?

• McAvoy scored a Gordie Howe hat trick on December 18, 2017, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• McAvoy's eight-year, $76 million contract signed in 2021 was the largest in Bruins history at the time.
• He was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships.