NHL Notes: Charlie McAvoy leading the way, Willie O'Ree should be in the Hall

It’s safe to say the Boston Bruins can hitch their wagon onto rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy.

The 19-year-old blueliner has dealt with the typical ebbs and flows of a first-year NHLer, but there have been more positives, and a lot less negatives to his game. He’s been paired with captain Zdeno Chara for the majority of this season and no doubt McAvoy has been able to handle it. Not only that, but he’s made significant contributions.



Against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday at Staples Center, he logged nearly 28 minutes of ice time on 33 shifts and recorded four hits, four blocked shots, a goal and a plus-1 rating. His early success isn’t a surprise given his skill set, but the consistency has been impressive for a rookie.

“He is only scratching the surface,” said one NHL scout. “He has so much upside. He reminds me of (Kings’ Drew) Doughty, always looks like he is having fun playing, wants to make a difference every shift whether offensively or physically. He will have some mistakes defensively because he is trying to make things happen, but don’t want to take that away. Really good young D-man that does everything pretty well and only going to get better.”

Prior to his goal against the Kings, McAvoy had gone eight games without a point. In fact, he hadn’t scored a goal since the season opener against the Nashville Predators at TD Garden. Even though he hadn’t been on the score sheet, he started to rush the puck more and was jumping into the play offensively, which is exactly what the Bruins want him to do.

“I know it’s been a little bit since I had a point, but maybe a couple of times a game I’m still getting chances, still trying to make plays. It’s the NHL and it’s not easy. When (offensive chances) open up you just try to make the most of them. At the same time, I don’t set a certain bar for myself that if I don’t get a goal a game then I’m not happy. I try to contribute offensively, defensively and just play a complete game and do whatever I can for the team.”

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said it best after a recent game when asked about McAvoy’s emerging confidence level.

“He’s only going to get better and that’s the scary part,” the coach said.

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The NHL officially announced Saturday that the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Bruins in the 2019 Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium. This will be the Blackhawks’ fourth appearance in the league’s marquee New Year’s Day event, and it will be Boston’s third.

Some believe there are too many outdoor games, but I believe there should be more. I’m a huge fan of these events and it’s good for the game.

“The Boston Bruins are excited to be playing the 2019 Bridgestone Winter Classic against another storied Original Six franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks,” said Bruins president Cam Neely. “The rich history of Notre Dame Stadium is well documented, and our team looks forward to playing at such an iconic venue. We hope that by participating in these large-scale and unique NHL events we can bring Bruins fans new hockey experiences, and that we can use these opportunities to help grow our great game and attract new fans.”

Bruins alternate captain Patrice Bergeron loves the outdoors. In fact, during the 2012 NHL All-Star break, he spent his five days off playing on the ponds in Lake Placid, N.Y. As a kid growing up in Quebec, he spent plenty of time on the ponds and lakes. As an NHLer, he enjoys the outdoor games.

“It’s always special and it always brings back some memories to be playing a game outside,” he said.

Bergeron’s never been to South Bend and admits he doesn’t know too much about the school.

“Well, I’ve seen the movie ‘Rudy,’ Bergeron said with laugh. “I don’t know that much about it but I know there’s a lot of history at the school, that program, so it’s going to be special.

“It’s really exciting. It’s always fun to take part in those events. It’s exciting and it’s going to be no different next year.”

The Bruins hosted the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park and defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in overtime. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Bruins 5-1 in the 2015 Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium.

“Gillette was amazing and the fans were great,” recalled Bergeron. “At Fenway, obviously with the ending was more special. I’m expecting the same thing (at Notre Dame) but we’ll be on the road so it’ll be a different feel.”

Playing in South Bend will be an unbelievable experience for both teams, but it will be extra meaningful for Bruins rookie Anders Bjork, who played his collegiate career at Notre Dame.

“It would be incredible,” Bjork said prior to the official announcement.

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After watching three members – Jeremy Jacobs, Mark Recchi and Dave Andreychuk – of the Bruins family being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last Monday in Toronto, it made one wonder who would be next to have a plaque hanging in the Great Hall.

The answer is simple: Willie O’Ree.

It’s inconceivable this pioneer of the game is not in the Hall of Fame. He should be inducted into the Builder’s Category. O’Ree became the first black player in the NHL when he made his debut with the Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958. He’s become an ambassador for the game and is highly regarded in the world of hockey. The NHL should also seriously consider either retiring or honoring his No. 22 jersey.

Also on the docket is Joe Thornton. Even without a Stanley Cup (at this point) Thornton will no doubt be a Hall of Famer. Jarome Iginla spent only one season with the Bruins but he’s a future Hall of Famer too. Then, of course, there’s Chara and Bergeron. It was actually cool to hear Jacobs, the owner of the Bruins for 42 years, mention his captain and alternate captain in his induction speech. At some point, both Chara and Bergeron will also make speeches.

“Absolutely,” Recchi said. “I would think there would be a few there, for sure. Bergy and Zee, they’ve had great, amazing careers, so it’ll be nice to see those guys here at some point.”

Bergeron should be considered, not only for his NHL career, but for his international success for Team Canada. The always-humble Bergeron doesn’t even want to think about that possibility when asked.

“No. No. No. You look at what (Recchi’s) accomplished and I’m not even closed to that, so it’s not something I think about,” Bergeron said. “I’m only worried about what I can control right now.”

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There are plenty of former local college players either already enjoying an NHL career, or some only beginning. It’s been fun to watch players like McAvoy and the Coyotes’ Clayton Keller. On Wednesday, it was cool to witness former Northeastern standout and current Anaheim Duck Kevin Roy recorded his first NHL goal against the Bruins at Honda Center in Anaheim.

“I didn’t see it. I just heard the noise and saw the players around me,” Roy said after Anaheim’s 4-2 win. “It just felt awesome. It’s a moment you dream of. Getting the first one is pretty special.”

The 24-year-old forward grew up in Quebec and is a big fan of Bergeron’s. Roy admitted it was exciting to finally play against the veteran forward.

“It’s a dream come true to play in this league and it’s special to play a team like Boston,” Roy said. “Bergeron’s from Quebec and I’ve been following him since I was little. He’s an awesome player and I followed him a lot.”

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We’re focusing on battle drills in this edition of Drill of the Week. It doesn’t matter the level, battle drills are so important, especially in front of the net. This is a simple 2-on-1 drill in front of the goalie. As the video demonstrates, creates a scramble in front. This is good for the forwards, the one defenseman and the goalie.