A brand new period of Bruins hockey begins Wednesday, and nobody’s extra aware of that than Charlie McAvoy.
There continues to be one hyperlink left to the 2011 Stanley Cup group. And type a stature level, it’s a giant one – captain Brad Marchand. But it’s the group of younger veterans who’ll be answerable for this membership’s future over the subsequent decade.
At the highest of that record is McAvoy, the B’s do-it-all defenseman who’ll munch probably the most minutes of anybody and will problem for a Norris Trophy for years to return.
“This next chapter in Bruins history is going to be written by us, obviously, with Marchy being the lone guy left (from the Cup team),” stated McAvoy. “We all have something to prove. That’s me. That’s (David Pastrnak). That’s (Brandon Carlo). That’s (Hampus Lindholm). None of us have won. We’ve been right there and gone as far as you can go and we have some experience. But what is our legacy going to be? I think that’s something I’m trying to internalize. I’ve got a lot of time left here, which I’m extremely grateful for. And we’ve got to be building something good and I think that’s what we’re doing.”
Big issues are anticipated of the 25-year-old McAvoy. After lacking the primary month of the season following shoulder surgical procedure final 12 months, he’s heading into the season wholesome this 12 months and ought to be able to dive head-first into his prime seasons. It has been noticeable in camp.
“He just seems to a have a lot more confidence in what he’s doing because there’s no doubts like, is my shoulder ready for this? Or can I handle this?” stated coach Jim Montgomery. “All those questions are gone. And he’s just playing.”
McAvoy is a bodily presence, strikes the puck and skates extraordinarily nicely. But if there may be one space the place each he and the membership want to see him to take one other step in is his offensive manufacturing. Not that he’s been some stay-at-home plugger. McAvoy had 7-45-52 totals in 67 video games and was plus-29, regardless of a few of these early bodily doubts he might need been battling.
But taking pictures the puck extra, whether or not it’s to attain objectives himself or create offense for others, has at all times been one little nagging a part of his sport that everybody desires to see extra of, particularly with him working the primary power-play unit and the B’s in possession of one of many high net-front forwards in James van Riemsdyk.
“You just (have to) reiterate how important it is that he has a shot-first mindset. And you continue to show him opportunities where you think he could have and when he passed them up. And then over time it gets less and less,” stated Montgomery.
McAvoy has heard it earlier than, and it’s one thing on which he intends to focus.
“Yeah, some of it’s been ongoing. One of the bigger things we’ve talked about is having someone like JVR in front of the net,” stated McAvoy. “He’s an extremely good tipper of the puck. When I think of him, I think of David Backes. Backs was someone you knew around the league that he was someone gifted at tipping the puck. Joe Pavelski is one that comes to mind when you think of that. And JVR’s really good at that. That’s how he’s made a living. So we’ve got to give him the chance. And that falls on me to get pucks through when I see him alone in front of the net.”
McAvoy’s membership within the management group has been cemented together with his ascension to alternate captain together with Pastrnak. While he appreciates what it means, he’s not intimidated by the function, nor does he imagine all of it falls on Marchand, Pastrnak (the opposite alternate) and him.
“Honestly not much has changed in terms of that,” stated McAvoy, who many have surmised would be the subsequent captain each time Marchand’s time is up. “I’ve been on a lot of teams, not NHL teams, where I’ve sort of been relied on in that way, whether it was college or junior teams. It’s just something I think I’ve grown a lot in. So to be recognized as that is nice, but I’ll always refer back to that it’s by committee. And there are a lot of guys in here, letter or not, who bring a lot to the leadership of this team.”
He is aware of sufficient the function he’s requested to fill can’t change who he’s. He’s seen all kinds of management from Zdeno Chara to Patrice Bergeron to David Krejci to Backes to Nick Foligno.
“All these people do it in different ways. And you have to do it organically. You have to come as who you are every day,” stated McAvoy. “So I’m getting older, getting to know who I am, who I want to be, really. That’s the biggest thing that I’ve taken from those guys, the stuff I loved the most about them – they’re all gentlemen, they’re all good guys, they treat everyone the same way. Those are probably the biggest things I want to take from them that I want to take forward.”
Now there are children to guide, too. Rookie facilities Matt Poitras and John Beecher have made the opening evening group. There’s a sense defenseman Mason Lohrei can be again up right here quickly.
McAvoy has been of their sneakers. He was a part of a younger group in 2017 that included Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly, Danton Heinen, Anders Bjork and Matt Grzelcyk.
“It was really special. We had a little bit of life coming in and then within a year we were playing for the Finals. You need to see those guys come in and not only that, (help) develop and be a part of them taking steps to grow and hit their ceiling,” stated McAvoy.
“And I just remember the little things. Your first point, your first goal, it’s just something you get excited about. And I think the bench gets even more excited than they do. It’s little stuff, but it’s something you play this game for and it’s cool.”
Let the brand new period start.
Source: www.bostonherald.com