Boston Bruins: Is Zdeno Chara holding Charlie McAvoy back?
Zdeno Chara is one of the best defensemen in Boston Bruins history and Charlie McAvoy appears to be the cornerstone of the team’s blue-line for years to come.
The two players have made up the top pair for the Boston Bruins all season long, but is Zdeno Chara helping or hurting Charlie McAvoy‘s development?
It’s no secret that at 42-years-old, Zdeno Chara has slowed down a step or two over the past couple of seasons. Despite that, he is set to be a member of the Bruins for the foreseeable future. Another player who will likely be a key member for the Bruins for the foreseeable future is Charlie McAvoy, although the 21-year-old is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.
The two players were initially paired together so that Chara could cover for any mistakes McAvoy would make while adjusting to the NHL, but now it seems that McAvoy is there to cover for Chara. Without his speed, Chara relies on his reach to bail him out. While that is still a great advantage for the 6-foot-9 defenseman, sometimes it isn’t enough.
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So does this pairing help or hinder McAvoy’s development?
Well, it seems like it has worked out pretty well so far. McAvoy is averaging 24:20 minutes per game throughout the play-offs which leads the team and is nearly two full minutes more than Chara, who ranks second on the team with 22:32 minutes per game. It’s safe to say that head coach Bruce Cassidy trusts McAvoy to be out there in any situation.
McAvoy has been finding his stride offensively as well. He scored seven goals and added 21 assists in 54 regular season games this year, and has added another seven points during the playoffs.
Chara may be in the twilight of his career, but that is exactly what makes him a perfect mentor for McAvoy. Big Z has been one of the best defensemen in the NHL for a long time and while he is no longer as dominant as he used to be, his experience and leadership is invaluable.
McAvoy’s game is still developing, but having Chara on the ice with him gives him a bit more freedom to jump into the rush and know that somebody is there to cover for him. The same thing could be said for Chara in the defensive end. He might not be able to keep up with wingers chasing down pucks in the corners, but McAvoy is always there to bail him out as well.
Rather than holding him back, Chara has been an important figure in McAvoy’s development from a rookie to a player on the verge of superstardom.
dark. Next. Tuukka for the Conn Smythe?
Chara is the captain, but McAvoy has taken over the role of number one defenseman for the Boston Bruins.