The Bruins have signed Charlie McAvoy to a three-year entry level deal, essentially ensuring that they will burn off the first year this season.
McAvoy, the 14th overall pick in last year’s draft out of Boston University, practiced with the team Monday ahead of this week's first-round playoff series against Ottawa. A right-shot defenseman, McAvoy figures to step into Boston’s lineup due to injuries to Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo. Playing one game will make this the first year of his contract, meaning he will be a restricted free agent after the 2018-19 season.
Cam Neely had said on Felger and Mazz last week that the team did not intend to play McAvoy in Boston this season, but Krug left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury, while Carlo suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday's loss to the Capitals.