By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The Boston Bruins opened their preseason Sunday at TD Garden against the Washington Capitals, giving young players a chance to adjust and veterans an opportunity to get back into the grind. The 5-2 loss was far from pretty, but mistakes at this stage are less about results and more about how players are thinking the game.
Getting inside players’ minds is key for Head Coach Marco Sturm as he works to relate to them and guide their decisions within the team system. By understanding how each player processes the game, Sturm can better anticipate their reactions, correct mistakes before they become habits, and ensure that the team’s system is executed smoothly on the ice. One quote from defenseman Charlie McAvoy in particular after Sunday’s loss jumped out and touched on the trajectory of his game.
“How often do I need to do that is probably the question. Can you still impose a threat just being who you are, just closing on guys? That’s probably something that I’m trying to look at versus trying to make a big hit multiple times in 82 games. I think I play too many minutes and try and to do too much to maybe do that as often as you’d like to. So, I think maybe playing smarter is something I’ll be trying to do this year.” —McAvoy on prioritizing a big hit, via WEEI’S Bridgette Proulx
In seasons prior, although it hasn’t been talked about nearly enough, the frustration with McAvoy is that, despite being elite at what he does, there always seems to be another level he could reach. For his future as a defenseman, it really will be about whether he leans in or away from his physical attributes.
Two things are true when McAvoy is playing hard all the time: he dictates which team imposes its will, and he boxes out opponents more effectively in front of the net. Understandably, though, circumstances have affected him following his injury in national play and while adjusting to a depleted roster. It will be interesting to see, then, whether focusing on simply being available will be enough if he cannot fully utilize the versatile game he has yet to maximize, and whether the Bruins will suffer as a result going forward.
Until then, Sturm and McAvoy have obviously discussed this at length, and it remains crucial for a reset culture to have one of its aspiring leaders available. McAvoy, both on and off the ice, does so much that goes unappreciated by fans and others, and that is why he and forward David Pastrnak are in the positions they are in.
He faces an unfamiliar season in his career, ultimately being asked to be versatile in the grand scheme of things. If things come together for McAvoy this season, it will be an early cherry on top for a career defined by adaptability and resilience. He just has to make sure the arrow on his defensive game is pointing up, because as McAvoy goes, so goes the Bruins.
Mccavoy played so well during the Four Nations game, I know why he can’t be like that all the time cause injury and whatever but man it might be necessary if we want to make a playoff push