Causeway Crowd
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
BOSTON, MA - MAY 04: Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky (17) tries to get past Boston Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton (75) with the puck. During Game 5 in the Second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs featuring the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Boston Bruins on May 04, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 04: Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky (17) tries to get past Boston Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton (75) with the puck. During Game 5 in the Second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs featuring the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Boston Bruins on May 04, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Should the Boston Bruins reward the rookie?

Despite this year being his rookie campaign, Connor Clifton stepped up admirably when called upon in the regular season and has continued to show up for the Boston Bruins in these playoffs thus far.

He has fast earned the trust of Boston Bruins head coach, Bruce Cassidy; whether this was due to other injuries up-and-down the line-up or due to a genuine trust in the player, who knows?

Either way, Connor Clifton, in his 19 regular season games was given an average ice time of 17:42 and was averaging 2 hits a night, showing a willingness to be physical which has often boded well in the playoffs.

Although his ice time has been pulled back to just over 11 minutes in the play-offs, the sheer fact he’s laced up the skates in 8 of the Boston Bruins’ 13 games speaks volumes. This, after all, is a player that began the year with the Providence Bruins of the AHL.

Whether Clifton is ready to elevate his game further alongside the Bruins’ captain on a top pairing is a little more questionable. He still shows a certain degree of hesitation that can be capitalised upon in the NHL, especially in the intense surrounds of an Eastern Conference finals game.

It truly is a big decision for Cassidy to determine whether Clifton is ready to step up to the plate. If he decides to push him and it pays off; he looks like a genius. If he pushes him and it backfires; suddenly, he’s a complete fool for giving the rookie the nod over more experienced players.

The biggest thing working in Clifton’s favour right now is that he may be able to keep up with some of the quicker guys in the Hurricanes’ line-up. He has also likely faced a few of them recently during his time in Providence.

High risk, high reward would be the only way to view pushing Connor Clifton up the line-up. Will coach Cassidy be bold?

Home/Bruins News