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Boston Bruins: Four options to take Charlie McAvoy’s minutes in Game 1

By Luke Ryan

COLUMBUS, OH - MAY 6: Boston Bruins defensemen Charlie McAvoy (73) and Zdeno Chara (33) sandwich Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Josh Anderson (77) during the second period. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MAY 6: Boston Bruins defensemen Charlie McAvoy (73) and Zdeno Chara (33) sandwich Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Josh Anderson (77) during the second period. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 04: Steven Kampfer #44 of the Boston Bruins and Jordan Greenway #18 of the Minnesota Wild race after a loose puck during a game at Xcel Energy Center on April 4, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN – APRIL 04: Steven Kampfer #44 of the Boston Bruins and Jordan Greenway #18 of the Minnesota Wild race after a loose puck during a game at Xcel Energy Center on April 4, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Do the Boston Bruins trust a one career NHL playoff game player?

Steven Kampfer may not be the first name you think of when you’re looking for someone to fill in for Charlie McAvoy, but Boston Bruins head coach, Bruce Cassidy has reportedly tested him out, per the Toronto Sun, alongside Zdeno Chara.

Despite his relative inexperience in play-off action, he could be the other half of the first defensive pairing when the Boston Bruins line up for Game 1 with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Coming into the season, Steven Kampfer was a depth player that has jumped back-and-forth between the American Hockey League and NHL his entire career.

He represents your typical AHL journeyman that had ably stepped up when called upon by the likes of the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Minnesota Wild after initially breaking in with none other than the Boston Bruins.

Whether he can translate that experience and determination into a strong performance if he’s paired with Chara on the first pairing is the big question?

Experience and determination can make up for lacking skill and if it’s only the one game, you can almost be assured that Kampfer would be willing to do whatever it takes to make his impact.

Interestingly, when he has been used this season by the Boston Bruins, he has averaged 55 seconds power-play time per game and an average ice-time of just over 14 minutes. That’s not half bad all things considered and would suggest that Cassidy does have some level of trust in his abilities.

Most often his ice-time was partnering John Moore, so unless Moore is returning from injury and we’re seeing more wholesale changes; that is likely about to change.

Can he step up; who knows – given it’s one game, he’s probably well worth a shot. These are the sorts of risks you have to take to advance to the Stanley Cup final!

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