Marc McLaughlin isn't going to have to move very far as he takes the next step in his hockey career.
The Boston College captain — and coveted collegiate free agent — is staying local, with the Bruins announcing on Tuesday afternoon that they have signed the Billerica native to a two-year, entry-level contract.
That contract goes into effect this season, representing an annual NHL cap hit of $883,750. However, it’s to be expected that McLaughlin will first cut his teeth down in Providence, helping an AHL squad that currently sits in second place in the Atlantic Division.
McLaughlin, 22, appeared in 130 games over four seasons at Chestnut Hill, recording 40 goals and 36 assists for 76 points and a plus-30 rating. The hard-nosed forward could have inked a contract last spring after a strong junior campaign, but he raised his stock even further as a senior — setting career-highs in goals (21) assists (11) and points (32) while also representing Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
On a surface level, sure, signing McLaughlin may not seem like much of a surprise if you’re a Bruins fan. He already checks off plenty of boxes in terms of what this franchise usually covets as a local product from a Hockey East institution.
But McLaughlin was a sought-after free agent with plenty of interested suitors, earning high marks for his two-way play (2020 Hockey East Best Defensive Forward), scoring pop and leadership intangibles.
Even though he’s far from flashy, McLaughlin projects as a potential bottom-six stalwart that can play in all situations. While that may not steal some headlines, Boston could certainly use McLaughlin sooner rather than later, especially with Curtis Lazar set to earn himself a nice little payday this summer as an unrestricted free agent.
He may not be a 20-goal scorer at the next level, but McLaughlin sure seems like the next in a long line of 200-foot-forwards that quickly become dependable foot soldiers in Bruce Cassidy’s forward rotations.
McLaughlin stands as the latest local product that the Bruins have added to their prospect pool, with Boston signing Providence Colege captain Mike Callahan to a two-year contract on Monday.
Callahan, whose rights were dealt from Arizona to Boston in late February in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round pick, saw his collegiate career with the Friars come to a close on Saturday in a 4-2 loss to UMass.
Callahan, 22, was originally selected by the Coyotes in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. The Franklin, Mass. native is expected to join McLaughlin down in Providence for the stretch run of the 2021-22 AHL season.
Like McLaughlin, Callahan has been lauded for his leadership and other intangibles — serving as captain of the Friars for three seasons. Callahan projects as a steady defender capable of some offensive pop. The left-shot D has posted 66 points in 138 games with Providence.