DEAL DONE: A former leafs defenseman has joined the team with the contract worth $867,500

General manager of the Boston Bruins Don Sweeney announced on Tuesday that defenseman Drew Bavaro has

joined the team on an entry-level, one-year deal. The contract is worth $867,500 on average every year.

For the duration of the 2023–24 season, Bavaro will be assigned to the Providence Bruins, the Bruins’ American

Hockey League (AHL) club, under an amateur tryout contract (ATO). In July 2022, Bavaro went to the Detroit Red

Wings development camp.

During the 2023–24 season, the 23-year-old right-shot defenseman played in 35 games for the University of Notre

Dame, recording 10 goals and 10 assists for a total of 20 points. Bavaro led the Fighting Irish defensemen in goals

and assists, and his 20 points tied for the most.

After spending two years at Bentley University, Bavaro concluded his second season with Notre Dame University. He

scored 39 points in 52 games during his two seasons with the Falcons, and in 2021–2022 he was named to both the

NCAA AHA First All-Star Team and the NCAA AHA All-Rookie Team. Over his four years in college, the 6-foot-2,

198-pound defenseman had 78 points in 124 games with 27 goals and 51 assists.

The Lakewood Ranch, Florida native took his skills to the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) before playing at

the University of Florida. In 2019–20, he was a member of the Wenatchee Wild. In 51 games, he recorded nine goals

and 24 assists for 33 points; in five BCHL postseason games, he recorded just one assist.

Providence, with a 35-17-3-2 record and 75 points through 57 games, is ranked second in the Atlantic Division. There

are fifteen games left on the Bruins’ schedule until the Calder Cup Playoffs start. In a back-to-back series, the Bruins

will play the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday and Saturday.