Charlie McAvoy
In signing a bridge deal, Charlie McAvoy took a bit of a gamble, whilst it could prove incredibly wise for the Boston Bruins.
There is absolutely no doubting that Charlie McAvoy is a number-one defenseman if not now, very soon. However, what he hasn’t yet managed is a full quota of 82 regular season games in the National Hockey League.
Heck, he hasn’t yet topped 65 in a season, let alone 82. For the Boston Bruins, it is possibly part of their reasoning for giving a bridge contract, that and the obvious salary cap implications should he have signed a long-term deal this summer.
If you’re Charlie McAvoy, you want to prove to your team that they’ve made the right decision and that you’re worth considerably more when that new contract is available down the track. Not only that, the team want you to stay fit and healthy because at just 21 years old, you’re already a key player on the Boston Bruins blue-line.
Zdeno Chara isn’t going to be around forever and realistically is probably fourth, if not slightly lower in terms of the team’s defensive depth. Whilst the Boston Bruins aren’t about to run thier captain out on a third pairing, they are going to rely upon Charlie McAvoy to ensure that Chara’s deficiencies are covered for.
Charlie McAvoy needs a full season at one hundred percent health to show us all exactly what he is and exactly what he can be. If he managed 28 points in 54 games last year, you’d hope that across say 80 games, he can top the 40-point mark at the very least.
Much like the other guys on the list, the Boston Bruins will absolutely want him to ensure he stays in peak condition for a full season.