Charlie mcavoy and the Boston Bruins are getting closer to a contract extension, Bruins chairman Cam Neely said Wednesday.

“We will hopefully get Charlie mcavoy done here shortly. … [general manager] put on [Sweeney] and [assistant GM] Evan [Gold] I’ve been working with Charlie’s camp the last few days, ”said Neely. “So hopefully we’ll see something here soon, but you never know until it’s signed on the dotted line.

The 23-year-old defenseman could be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. He signed a three-year, $ 14.7 million contract with the Bruins on September 15, 2019.

Sweeney, however, said he was less definitive on McAvoy’s contract talks.

“There is nothing imminent,” he said. “But we are hopeful. We continue to talk periodically with different players and the timing will present itself. We would very much like Charlie to be part of the organization for a long time. I hope it is reciprocated, and it is. Usually at that time that the deals are done come together.

“We appreciate him, both as a player and as a person. He evolves into a leadership role. He’s been included in that leadership group and I hope that’s an indication that Charlie is in. becoming the person, both as a leader and as a player, who we hoped he would be. “

McAvoy watched this offseason when several comparable NHL defensemen signed contracts, including Miro Heiskanen the Dallas Stars (eight years, $ 67.6 million), Seth jones the Chicago Blackhawks (eight years, $ 76 million), Makar wedge Colorado Avalanche (six years, $ 54 million), Dougie Hamilton the New Jersey Devils (seven years, $ 63 million) and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets (six years, $ 57.5 million).

“I play hockey, that’s it,” McAvoy said Sept. 25. “Obviously all these D-men, I’m very happy for them. It’s all well deserved. But for me, just excited about this year, excited about the group we have.”

Video: NYR @ BOS: McAvoy blows up the one-timer for PPG in the 1st

McAvoy was mentored by Zdeno Chara early in his NHL career before the former Bruins captain accepted a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals on December 30, 2020. He finished fifth in voting last season for the Norris Trophy, awarded top defenseman in the NHL, scoring 30 points (five goals, 25 assists) in 51 games last season. He’s scored 122 points (24 goals, 98 assists) in four seasons in the NHL, all with Boston.

“I haven’t heard any indication that Charlie wouldn’t want to play here for his entire career,” said Neely. “So that’s what we’re looking for and hopefully we can do something that gives him the opportunity to do it.

“Charlie, he kissed Boston. He went to college here (Boston University). I think he loves the city, loves the sporting environment, loves our fan base. Playing in front of a full house every. evenings is definitely something special … I haven’t seen or heard anything from Charlie that gives me a reason why he wouldn’t want to play here for as long as possible. “

McAvoy is not the only member of the Bruins with an expiring contract after this season. Captain Patrice Bergeron is a pending unrestricted free agent and said in September he would not sign a new deal until the end of the season.

“I give ‘Bergy’ a ton of credit, which happens a lot here,” said Neely. “He wasn’t just jumping into overtime without really knowing if he was going to be able to devote the time and energy he has to being the player he is. He played a lot of hockey. He suffered significant injuries in his career.

“So I think he really, and rightly, wants to see how he feels at the end of the year and see if he still has the passion and the will to be the player he would like to be. We’re going to give him all that time and space as needed. I’d definitely love to see him continue, but we’ll see where he goes.

Neely said the Bruins haven’t ruled out the goalie’s return Rask tuukka and forward David Krejci. Rask is an unrestricted free agent and is recovering from offseason surgery. Krejci left the Bruins to play for Olomouc in his native Czech Republic.

“We’ve told them both that the door is open if they decide to try to come back and then we’ll see where that leads,” Neely said. “But that remains to be seen for both of them. It really depends on where they are at, both mentally and physically.”