By: Andrew Bluestein | Follow Me On Twitter / X @adbblue
Charlie McAvoy has arguably been the Boston Bruins’ most important player for the last several seasons. The workhorse defenseman plays many different roles for the team on a nightly basis. His ability to contribute in many areas is a huge factor in the team’s winning ways.
McAvoy can play in any situation and is a lock to be on the ice in any crunch-time moment in the game. His contributions are something that is undoubtedly priceless to the team, both on and off the ice. Check out this BetMGM Bonus Code for your chance to make a small investment turn into a big cash payout.
There’s pretty much nothing the former Bruins first-round pick can’t do. McAvoy plays heavy minutes in all situations. He currently leads the team in time on ice per game, averaging 24:33, and is second in total minutes played with 1006:40 despite missing eight games. He’s fourth on the team in average shorthanded time on ice with 2:21 and is third on the team, first among defensemen in power play time on ice per game. Not many guys in the league can contribute that many minutes on the ice in every phase of the game.
His offensive ability is no doubt at the top of the league for a defenseman. The former Boston University Terrier wears a lot of different hats when it comes to the Bruins producing offense. His skating is one of his strongest attributes, which allows him to be dangerous, breaking the puck out of the defensive end. Furthermore, it allows him to jump into the rush and generate high-quality chances.
McAvoy is an excellent puck mover and distributor and has a great shot release. His ability to generate offense from the point, whether it’s the high-to-low game or low-to-high, makes him a very dangerous player. His line through 41 games this season is 7-26-33 and has a +13 rating. McAvoy’s point total is fourth on the team and first among defensemen, which is no surprise.
The Long Beach, New York native plays just as good of a defensive game as an offensive game. It’s another attribute that makes him such a valuable player. His transition from offense to defense is almost flawless, as his skating ability allows him to get back into position in the blink of an eye. Additionally, his toughness and physicality make him challenging for the opposition to play against. He never shies away from contact and isn’t afraid to jump in front of shots, leading the team with 85 blocks.
McAvoy’s leadership is another thing he provides Boston with, serving as one of the team’s Alternate captains. This is his seventh season, all of which have been with the Black and Gold. When he first cracked the NHL, he was paired with Bruins legend Zedano Chara, which has noticeably rubbed off on McAvoy. The 26-year-old is now one of the most listened-to voices in the room, and he is in line to be a future captain being under contract for the next six seasons. He has become, without question, one of the top players in the league, making him a great asset for the Bruins.
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