All stats courtesy of hockeyreference.com.
Next up on my list is defenseman Charlie McAvoy! McAvoy appeared in 54 games for the Bruins last season, in which he produced seven goals and 21 assists. He then played in 23 playoff games for the team on their run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, through which he tallied two goals and six assists. Drafted 14th overall of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Bruins, McAvoy has appeared in 117 career NHL games, over which he has recorded 14 goals and 46 assists. The 21-year-old defenseman has only played for the Bruins organization over his slightly over two season NHL and professional career after turning pro following his sophomore season at Boston University in 2016-17.
McAvoy is the team’s number one defenseman of the present and future. He’s developing (notice I said developing, he isn’t there just yet) into an elite defenseman in the league, and he’ll be there soon. He’s just 21 years old with two years of professional experience, and yet on the ice, he plays with the poise of a seasoned veteran. He’s an excellent skater and puckhandler, and although he’s more of an offensive defenseman, he’s also strong in his own zone. He only continues to improve as well, which is exciting considering how good he already is. He’s able to quarterback a power play and although his production appears to be a little bit underwhelming on the surface, it should be kept in mind that he plays on the second power-play unit and it should improve as he gains more experience. In addition to his individual play, in my opinion, McAvoy has also helped Chara extend his career because his speed and overall skating ability makes up for what Chara lacks in that category, while Chara is able to cover for his occasional mistakes defensively and for when he is out of position. They complement each other nicely, and they’re both capable of playing serious minutes and against the other team’s top lines. Overall, McAvoy is a fun player to watch and it’s exciting to think of how good he will be as he continues to develop.
As for what we can expect out of McAvoy next season, as I’ve said a few times now, he’s already a great player and he’ll only continue to improve as he matures and gains more experience. Hopefully, he can stay healthy this year, and if he can I think we’ll see a big uptick in his production as he has yet to have a healthy season as a professional. This hasn’t allowed him to establish a good groove, as he’s either been injured at the beginning of a season and has to play catch up to everyone else, or he is hurt in the middle of the season and falls out of his established rhythm so he then has to get back into it. But, I think he’ll be able to stay healthy this season, so we’ll finally be able to see what he’s capable of over the course of a full-season. Regardless of point totals and health tough, McAvoy will still be the slick, puck-moving, smooth-skating defenseman that burst onto the scene for the team in the 2017 playoffs, and it’s exciting to think that he’ll only get better from here. Now, if he could just be signed to a long-term deal, we as fans could sit back and watch him continue to develop into an elite defenseman over the course of this upcoming season and for many more beyond it.
Hockey Addict 