By: Sam Minton | Follow Me on Twitter @sam_minton22
The Boston Bruins made sure that Charlie McAvoy would remain a member of the black and gold for a long time ahead of the 2021 NHL season. The B’s signed McAvoy to a massive eight-year deal worth $76 million, and somehow the deal is already paying off.
McAvoy has been one of the best players for the Bruins so far in 2021. In 13 games, McAvoy already has three goals and nine assists. He is on pace to smash his previous season output of five goals and 25 assists in just 51 games.
McAvoy’s latest performance was a master display in all that he is capable of. The 23-year-old scored two goals but also did a lot more. McAvoy continued to be one of the leaders in ice time with over 20 minutes of ice time. The defensemen also showed off his physicality and why he is one of the most liked players on the roster.
It seems almost impossible for McAvoy to make one of the most expensive contracts for a defenseman seem like a steal, but that’s exactly what he has done. Don’t take my word for it; just look at what Andrew Raycroft has to say.
McAvoy will be the top defenseman for the Bruins for many years to come. He got to learn from Zdeno Chara, and now he is taking his place and, dare I say, performing better.
The 23-year-old is much faster and able to keep up with the young stars of today’s NHL. While Bruins fans will remember Chara’s later years where he was slow as molasses, Big Z was once a young lad. Still, even looking at Chara’s career as a whole, the biggest man on skates was never known for his speed.
Even after an impressive start to his career, McAvoy seems on the precipice of a career year. If he can maintain this level of play, he could be approaching Norris Trophy-level quality.
One of the most important things for McAvoy is seeing if he can stay healthy. The defenseman has found himself on the injury report on multiple occasions. If the 23-year-old can stay healthy, the rest of the NHL will be on high alert.
With Boston having some struggles in the defensive end, the Bruins will need to continue to rely on McAvoy. If they are going to be a top team, they need him to play a majority of the games this season.
But McAvoy has already shown that he is well worth the contract. He is going to be a leader for the Bruins and his health so far this season is promising. While there might be worries about him wearing down with his massive amounts of time on ice, it’s simply what is expected from your top defenseman, who is being paid like one.
So somehow, McAvoy is proving to be worth more than his enormous contract. Don Sweeney deserves credit for ensuring that a deal was reached and that the defensemen will be wearing the black and gold for a long time.
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