Welcome to the first in a season-long series called “The Negotiator,” where we’ll tap into the front office experience of Daily Faceoff‘s Steve Greeley, who most recently served as assistant general manager of the Buffalo Sabres.



The Boston Bruins inked defenseman Charlie McAvoy to a massive eight-year, $76 million deal on the eve of their season opener on Friday. McAvoy, 23, will soon be paid among the NHL’s elite, one of just seven blueliners with a $9 million or more salary cap hit – joining Erik Karlsson ($11.5m), Drew Doughty ($11m), Zach Werenski ($9.58m), Seth Jones ($9.5m), Roman Josi ($9.06m), Dougie Hamilton ($9m) and Cale Makar ($9m).



The question for The Negotiator: What does McAvoy’s new deal mean for reigning Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Adam Fox</h2>



Team: New York Rangers Position: Right Defense Age: 23 Career: 127 GP, 14 goals, 77 assists, 91 points, 21:30 ATOI Last Season: Norris Trophy, 55 GP, 5 goals, 42 assists, 47 points, 24:42 ATOI Current Contract: 3-year, entry-level contract with $925,000 AAV Analysis: What’s the contract comparable for becoming just the second player in NHL history to win the Norris Trophy in their sophomore season? There is none. That isn’t the only way this is a unique case. <div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="198"></div>



Fox is a lifelong Ranger fan. He found himself on the move twice (from Calgary, from Carolina) – including the best trade of Jeff Gorton’s tenure – because he used CBA rights to his advantage, not signing with those teams, to live out his childhood dream on Broadway. For that reason, I think both the team and player will be on the same page in wanting an eight-year max, long-term deal. Does that mean there will be a hometown discount there? The Rangers can only hope.



At the start of last season, it was easy to think that Fox, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes would all be eyeballing each other, waiting for contracts to be signed. Makar helped set the table by signing a new deal with a $9 million AAV that lasts just six years. The market may, in fact, view Makar as a better player, too. Makar may have outplayed Fox last season, putting up a point-per-game and playing a large role in helping his team win a round in the playoffs, but Norris voters saw Fox with the better overall season by virtue of more games played.<div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="190"></div>



McAvoy’s new deal probably changes things for the Rangers in that what likely would have been an initial offer in the $9.25 million AAV range probably now starts with what McAvoy got at $9.5 million. The McAvoy deal validates a Fox camp ask for an eight-figure AAV.



Given what we know about Fox’s affinity for the Blueshirts, I don’t anticipate this being a problem. He is now playing in the last season of his entry-level deal. The table is set for a massive payday. It will get done and Fox will be a Ranger for a long, long time.



Comparables: Charlie McAvoy, Boston: 8 years, $76 million ($9.5 million AAV) Cale Makar, Colorado: 6 years, $54 million ($9 million AAV) Miro Heiskanen, Dallas: 8 years, $67.6 million ($8.45 million AAV) Likely New York Rangers initial ask: 8 years, $9.5 million AAV Likely Adam Fox camp initial ask: 8 years, $10.75 million AAV The Negotiator Says: 8 years, $10 million AAV.<div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="155"></div>