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Charlie McAvoy Needs To Be The Boston Bruins Top Pick

By Andrew Thompson |
Apr 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston University Terriers react on the bench after being defeated by the Providence College Friars 4-3 in the championship game of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston University Terriers react on the bench after being defeated by the Providence College Friars 4-3 in the championship game of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Unless the Boston Bruins are crazy (or have a tremendous surprise for us), they’ll be picking a defenseman for one or both of their first round picks when the NHL Entry Draft happens in a few weeks. The Bruins have sent their scouts halfway around the world to find the next Zdeno Chara for the Black and Gold. While they’re scouring the globe looking, the Bruins may have found a future career Bruin on the other side of town.

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Charles McAvoy had a standout freshman year playing for the Boston University Terriers.  The 18-year old McAvoy was part of a defensive pair anchored by senior Matt Grzelcyk, who himself is a Bruins prospect.  In his first collegiate season, McAvoy  put up 25 points(three goals) in 37 games. That’s an outstanding year for the freshman, and it certainly caught a lot of NHL teams attention.

“I just tried to play great two-way hockey,” said McAvoy, who met with 29 of the 30 NHL teams, including the Black and Gold, during the scouting combine week. “I think the level of hockey I played against was very demanding [in Hockey East], playing against older guys, stronger and more physical guys. I think it was a testament to the kind of player I am to have the success I did at that level. I’m proud of my season, and I’m proud of the body of work that I was able to put together.

“From a development standpoint, I played against competition that was more like the next level. On any given night, I was playing against guys who were from one to six years older. That kind of competition only prepared me to get better. At BU I’m in a good environment to learn, to continue to grow offensively and on the defensive side. I also felt like as a team that we had a very good season.”

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The team at Causeway Crowd saw McAvoy’s potential early (most of us live in the Boston area and have seen his collegiate play first hand.)

Charlie McAvoy is still placed to go in the middle of the first round. He should still be available to the Bruins at the 14th pick.  At the moment, he’s ranked sixth among North American skaters according to TSN.  

Dan Marr is the NHL’s  Director of Central Scouting. He’s had that position with the league since 2011. He has nothing but high praise for the 18-year old. “Charlie stepped in and made an impact on an NCAA team as a freshman, and that’s a hard, difficult thing to do,” said Marr. “He had a very consistent year. We like the fact that he’s a solid, two-way player and the coach is able to use him at any time of the game, in any situation, to get the job done.”

He’s got the potential. He’s got the hometown connection, and he’s exactly what the Bruins will need in a year or two. (Well, we need him yesterday, but if he keeps improving…we can be patient.) If Don Sweeney wants to show the fans he can make some brilliant long-term calls, he can start by locking up this young dynamo.

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