Charlie McAvoy has broken free of the Boston Bruins' internal hierarchy.
McAvoy reached a maximum-term eight-year extension with the Bruins on Friday worth $76 million. It's the richest deal in team history, and will pay the star defenseman $9.5 million annually through the 2029-2030 season.
McAvoy is also scheduled to be the team's highest earner by nearly $3 million when the extension kicks in next season.
That last part is key. While timing has been on its side, Bruins management has worked wonders in the salary cap era, having earners fall in behind their considerably underpaid captain Patrice Bergeron at under $7 million.