By: Matthew Lemear | Follow Me on X @Mlemear331
As the hockey world knows, the Boston Bruins went full-sell and dealt away team Captain Brad Marchand on the National Hockey League’s trade deadline day. The Bruins also dealt assistant Captain Brandon Carlo and fill-in assistant Captain Charlie Coyle on the same day. After trading away three prominent members of your on-ice leadership team, we must ask who will and/or should be the next captain of the Boston Bruins.
Being the Boston Bruins’ on-ice leader is not a role that should ever be taken lightly or for granted. Becoming the Bruins Captain puts a player in an elite club filled with great leaders and hall-of-famers. Your name will be linked to names such as Terry O’Reilly, Raymond Bourque, Zdeno Chara, and Patrice Bergeron, all legends to Boston and all hockey fans alike. Adding to the prestige of the role, the next choice for captain could very well be one of the most impactful choices in franchise history.
With how the Bruins’ post-deadline roster looks, two apparent choices stand out amongst Bruins fans: David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, who serve as the team’s primary assistant captains. Barring a massive acquisition via trade or free agency this summer, it is unlikely that the choice would be anyone other than one of these two players, either of which would be a solid choice. However, the real debate lies in which one of these two players gets the ‘C.’
First, let’s look at who I believe is the current leader in the clubhouse. David Pastrnak has not only played well and had one of the hottest streaks of any player this season, but he has also stepped up as a leader since the NHL trade deadline. Pastrnak’s poise and presentation in front of the cameras and microphones alone has taken a giant leap forward. Pastrnak has taken the reigns of speaking for this team and welcoming the new players into the system in what has likely been a whirlwind week and a half for many of the guys.
Bruins management clearly already sees Pastrnak as a leader of this team. Since the departure of Zdeno Chara, he has regularly been an assistant captain for multiple seasons. In a recent locker room media scrum, Pasta referred to already having the ‘A’ on his jersey and the responsibilities of a leader. Pasta also shared his thoughts on potentially being named captain, stating how he is trying not to change how he approaches the game and being a leader.
Like any player in the NHL, Pastrnak has faults. Pastrnak can be a streaky player, and often, his bad streaks leave fans extremely frustrated. Fans have criticized Pastrnak for his turnovers, and he is sometimes viewed as a “soft” player. However, when push comes to shove, he is currently the best player on the roster and has been for some time; he is also now the longest-tenured player and has the most experience in a leadership role. Pastrnak has stepped up this season, during which this team has struggled immensely. Over everything else, and the potential negatives, this is what makes me believe he is currently the best choice to be the captain of the Boston Bruins.
In addition to Pastrnak, Bruins’ defenseman Charlie McAvoy is also considered a potential choice for the captaincy. Similarly to Pastrnak, McAvoy has been an assistant captain for the past couple of seasons. McAvoy is one of Boston’s top defensemen and is looked upon to lead the players on the ice. Though McAvoy has less tenure than Pastrnak, many believe the defenseman would be a more logical choice to don the ‘C.’
In an article posted to NESN’s X page, Tim Crowley mentions that Charlie McAvoy would have been a logical choice to be captain after the loss of Zdeno Chara if not for being behind players of the caliber of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Crowley touts McAvoy’s 300 career points and the fact that he was chosen as a leader early in his career. While I agree that McAvoy is undoubtedly a leader on this team, I am unsure if being the captain is a perfect fit for him.
There is no doubt that McAvoy’s 300 points as a defenseman in this league are impressive. However, being a captain is about more than statistics, especially for a franchise like the Bruins. At times, McAvoy will go into defensive slumps where his turnover numbers increase, and he gets beat to loose pucks and doesn’t make smart plays. Yes, this happens to many players. However, someone of McAvoy’s caliber needs to rise above in tough times.
Should Charlie McAvoy be a leader for this organization? Yes, absolutely. The assistant captain role, however, seems to fit Charlie’s style the best. In this role, he doesn’t need to be the main guy who is looked to speak or rally the troops when times are tough. McAvoy was an assistant captain for Team USA in the recent 4 Nations Face-Off tournament and seemed to flourish in the role until he was derailed by injury.
Now, don’t get me wrong. McAvoy certainly would not be a bad choice as captain. Charlie seems to do well in the assistant captain spot, and with the inconsistencies he’s shown at times in his career, heavy is the head that wears the crown, and the pressure of the ‘C’ may prove too much. However, a comforting thought to leave you with is that McAvoy has talked about how his leadership role has expanded over the last couple of seasons and how he takes great pride in doing it well.
As mentioned above, it is unlikely that either Pastrnak or McAvoy will not be the next captain. If that situation does indeed play out, it leaves one spot open for a new assistant captain. Many fans have recently supported offseason acquisition Nikita Zadorov for an assistant captain role. Despite Zadorov’s struggles this season, which are more highlighted because of the contract he was given, Zadorov has been one of a few players who will stand up for his teammates. That support for his teammates is not just on the ice, either. Listen to Zadorov’s candid comments about this team in the video below.
Zadorov is a polarizing figure, and not just because of his size. He is considered a leader; he is not afraid to mix it up with ANYONE, and he will be the first person to defend a teammate on and off the ice. Have fans expected more from Zadorov based on the money the Bruins gave him? Sure. But as the season has gone on, Zadorov has slowly endeared himself to this loyal fanbase, especially after the team’s most recent game against the Florida Panthers that ended with Zadorov rag-dolling the much-detested Sam Bennett. Nikita Zadorov would be a fine choice to be part of the Bruins’ leadership team, and many expect Zadorov’s play to improve in his second year with the Bruins.
No matter how anybody wants to spin it, this has been a tumultuous season for the Bruins. They ended up trading away their captain and two assistant captains, resulting in dire need of new on-ice leadership. Management and the coaching staff are faced with what could be a decision that has a monumental impact on the future direction of this team. As the saying goes, a team is only as good as its leader, but luckily for the fanbase, the Bruins have multiple top-notch options to choose from, and the future of this team will be in good hands.
Leave a Reply