Boston Bruins: Three comparable contracts for Brandon Carlo to ponder
By Luke Ryan
The Boston Bruins are yet to re-sign either of their stud restricted free agent defensemen; Brandon Carlo is arguably the harder to put a price tag on.
Given that Charlie McAvoy is widely regarded as the future of the franchise on the blue-line, it’s fair to say he can command number one defensemen money coming into restricted free agency. Brandon Carlo is clearly destined for a role in the Boston Bruins top four for the foreseeable future but doesn’t exactly predict to be a number-one guy.
As such, finding a contract that balances his potential to be that perfect defensive defenseman that you want to be able to offset the offensively-minded guys, is a bit of a challenge. Even finding comparable contracts proves somewhat challenging.
See, Brandon Carlo has barely missed a game in his three seasons with the Boston Bruins; only managing 72 games last season was a low for him. Add in the fact that he didn’t miss a game on the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final and it’s safe to say he holds value.
Much has been made about both McAvoy and Carlo signing (or as the case is, not yet signing) new deals with the team, likely because they’re so dependent upon what the other does. Neither wants to take a deal first for fear it either ruins the cap structure to get their teammate back in the fold or that they end up going under-paid comparatively.
Both men, no doubt, need to make some exceptions to ensure that they’re both back with the Boston Bruins in time for training camp. It’s really a game of who flinches first though at this stage. That and it’s likely in the hands of the player’s agents, rather than themselves directly.
Around the league, there’s plenty of restricted free agents that are still sitting unsigned, however we’ve managed to find three that inked deals this summer and may be good comparisons for Brandon Carlo, his agent and the Boston Bruins to be putting on the table at contract negotiations.