Player Discussion Charlie McAvoy IV

[Dennis Bonvie]

I share the frustration. The past couple of years and now into a third McAvoy's development really has stagnated. I don't know if it's related to his shoulder injury, coaching over that time, or a combination of both. I do know that he is the best RD that we have on the team and that there isn't a team in the league that wouldn't want McAvoy on their roster.

We have been spoiled in Boston for almost fifty years with elite defensmen, from Orr, to Park, to Bourque, to Chara. Our expectations are set extremely high. McAvoy, while a very good defensman, has not yet elevated his level of play to even come close to matching the aforementioned abilities to control a game.

McAvoy when carrying the puck does not project the same aura of confidence in abeing able to control game tempo. His body language, puck control, and decision making always seem rushed and uncertain. Expectations can often cause a player to try and do too much and stray from the things they do really well. McAvoy needs to stay within his game and play within his strengths and abilities. And for him, at this point in time, that should be his primary concern.

I'm still hoping that as he enters his prime years that his experience gathered to this point and maybe a different voice, game strategy, and developmental guidance will restore and instill a yet unreached level of confidence and poise that will be displayed in his on ice game. Some players get it and take their game to another level; others though extremely talented never elevate. At worst he is at the moment our team's best defensmen.

The contract he signed was based on still untapped potential; and whether that potential is ever reached or exceeded is still yet to be determined. As fans we become frustrated because we see flashes of that potential mixed with plays and game reactions we believe he is better than. In reality he may never be more than he has shown. I for one will remain optimistic that eventually confidence clicks with his ability. Hopefully, with time he will carve out his own unique legacy with Boston.

McAvoy signed his current contract in 2022, after two seasons of being 5th and then 4th in Norris trophy voting. That contract wasn't based on potential. For some combination of reasons his play has not improved, rather regressed a bit. I just can't buy that he peaked at age 24.

 

[PB37]

He started off slow and inconsistent which had me worried because he was all over the place last year. But hes been playing good hockey for at least a month now and performing to his potential. If he keeps this current level of play, he might end the season with his counting stats around 10 goals / 50 points/+20 which is a normal McAvoy year going by his career averages. I've also noticed he's been more aggressive with getting into better shooting lanes from the point on the PP since the RB comments when before his default status was to differ.

 

[PlayMakers]

Come on folks. Guy's a stud.

 

[Dr Hook]

Come on folks. Guys a stud.

He's a very good defenseman, a true #1. He just shouldn't be running the top PP unit. It isn't one of his strengths and salary or "rank" on the team is not a good reason to keep trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.

 

[RoccoF14]

He's a very good defenseman, a true #1. He just shouldn't be running the top PP unit. It isn't one of his strengths and salary or "rank" on the team is not a good reason to keep trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.

I agree with all of this. Only issue I have is that I don't see a better option on the PP right now.

Maybe when Lindholm comes back you give him a run, but in the meantime, I still like Charlie as a better option than anyone else. Including Lohrei.

I thought Shattenkirk was our best PP guy last year.

 

[BruinDust]

He's a very good defenseman, a true #1. He just shouldn't be running the top PP unit. It isn't one of his strengths and salary or "rank" on the team is not a good reason to keep trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.

He's almost at 500 games (492) and has just 13 career PP goals to his name. 4 of them came in the same season. He basically averages 2 PP goals per year, so 1 PP goal every 40 games.

 

[Patdud]

He's a very good defenseman, a true #1. He just shouldn't be running the top PP unit. It isn't one of his strengths and salary or "rank" on the team is not a good reason to keep trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.

McAvoy 100% has the skills and offensive gusto to run a PP, he just doesnt seem to want to be the guy doing it.

 

[duffy]

McAvoy 100% has the skills and offensive gusto to run a PP, he just doesnt seem to want to be the guy doing it.

He doesn't have the hockey IQ to run a PP and the rest of the PP team standing still does not help!

 

[Dr Hook]

I agree with all of this. Only issue I have is that I don't see a better option on the PP right now.

Maybe when Lindholm comes back you give him a run, but in the meantime, I still like Charlie as a better option than anyone else. Including Lohrei.

I thought Shattenkirk was our best PP guy last year.

Well that's the problem, isn't it. They don't have anyone because why bother when you have McAvoy, though I agree, Shatty was solid in the role. Maybe Hampus should get an extended run there when he gets back. Lohrei, maybe in the near future, but not sure right now.

McAvoy 100% has the skills and offensive gusto to run a PP, he just doesnt seem to want to be the guy doing it.

I don't know about that- he's been doing it long enough that if he had the skills they would have shown up by now. I think he tries and does his best out there but there's something missing. Maybe it's hockey IQ like @duffy said above, I don't know. It seems to me he just doesn't process the game quickly on the PP. He is fine in regular 5 on 5 play, so who knows

 

[PaulD]

McAvoy signed his current contract in 2022, after two seasons of being 5th and then 4th Norris trophy voting. That contract wasn't based on potential. For some combination of reasons his play has not improved, rather regressed a bit. I just can't buy that he peaked at age 24.

Hard to believe. But I think he did.
Pk Subban did same.

 

[Patdud]

I don't know. It seems to me he just doesn't process the game quickly on the PP. He is fine in regular 5 on 5 play, so who knows

Thats the point I'm making, he doesn't seem to want the puck on his stick on the PP the way he does 5v5. You see him drive end to end right to the net and score a highlight reel goal 5v5 or in OT, but the moment he hits the centerline on the PP its indecisive pass, the moment it comes to the point its right back to Pasta or Marchand. It really boggles the mind, I don't get it. The way he's regressed since his shoulder surgery (I understand the Bergeron element for the whole team, but he was injured to start the "record" year) doesnt look good, and I'm one of his biggest supporters.

 

[Absurdity]

He needs to shoot more on the PP. His shot is lethal when he has open looks in the middle of the ice, but as a unit, the focus is to get the puck to Pastrnak to score which in theory isn't a bad idea since he's David Pastrnak, however, McAvoy should understand that using his shot more on the PP is also beneficial to getting Pastrnak and the PP better looks to score as well.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

He needs to shoot more on the PP. His shot is lethal when he has open looks in the middle of the ice, but as a unit, the focus is to get the puck to Pastrnak to score which in theory isn't a bad idea since he's David Pastrnak, however, McAvoy should understand that using his shot more on the PP is also beneficial to getting Pastrnak and the PP better looks to score as well.

McAvoy and lethal shot aren't something I associate together.

 

[Absurdity]

McAvoy and lethal shot aren't something I associate together.

Maybe not lethal, but I do believe it is underrated much like Zadorov's is.

 

[Dr Hook]

Maybe not lethal, but I do believe it is underrated much like Zadorov's is.

Hard to tell when he doesn’t really use it.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Hard to believe. But I think he did.
Pk Subban did same.

Subban did have one great season in Nashville at age 28 when he was a 2nd team all-star (3rd in Norris voting).

 

[PaulD]

Subban did have one great season in Nashville at age 28 when he was a 2nd team all-star (3rd in Norris voting).

True.
But the 2010 - 2015 Subban was better than anything to come after.
His first six seasons were his best.
I'm predicting same for McAvoy

 

[PaulD]

This. I’ve been in this street since. He’s like Krug with his shoulder. It changes they’re game. Krug lost that slapshot and MacAvoy doesn’t hit shoulder to shoulder anymore. It most definitely has affected him. He’s also trying to do too much. I think the team and him should decide what he’s going to be going forward. Is it a solid all around defenseman or an offensive defenseman? I think they need to take him off the PP. It’s not is forte. He telegraphs passes too much. Lohrei need to take that roll or a forward.

This !

So based on your logic, he's arguably a top 5-10 dman in the NHL, which IMO, he's always been.

I personally ain't worried about his struggles as our entire team is a mess + he's playing with a turnover machine in Lohrei.

He's way too talented to not figure this out, especially with all the changes we've seen this offseason.

IMO, with the exception of Makar and Hedman, if you put McAvoy on any of those other teams, he'd have a lot more support to be a top 5 dman. Seider hasn't been that much better than him and Serg, Werenski etc don't have the overall game that McAvoy has.

Keep calm and move on

Mac has been average to poor since and including the 2023 play off loss to the Panthers.
How many more seasons do you think it will take him to " figure this out"

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

True.
But the 2010 - 2015 Subban was better than anything to come after.
His first six seasons were his best.
I'm predicting same for McAvoy

Let's hope not.