Charlie McAvoy shared his opinion on Bruins new signee Nikita Zadorov (Credit: IMAGN)
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy is excited for the Boston Bruins’s upcoming season, with the preseason only three weeks away. During his practice at Warrior Ice Arena, McAvoy shared his thoughts on the team’s latest signing, Nikita Zadorov.
Zadorov joined the Boston Bruins on a six-year, $30 million contract. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 248 pounds, Zadorov is expected to add size and toughness to the Bruins’ blue line. The Bruins struggled to contain the Florida Panthers’ tactics in the playoffs last season. The team hopes that doesn’t repeat next season.
In a video shared by the Bruins, McAvoy talked about his excitement about the possibility of playing alongside Zadorov.
“I really enjoyed watching him (Zadorov) from afar and the player that he is and the career that he’s had, and I mean, I’m thrilled with the opportunity to have him here, and he makes our D core really, really whole,” McAvoy said, (via nesn.com).
“We’ve got a little bit of everything, and I’m just really happy that he’s here, and if I get the chance to play with him, I think we’ll hit it off. I think we’ll be really good together.”
McAvoy also noted that Zadorov’s size will allow him to play more offensively.
“It’s good. It’s good to have size. I think you’re seeing a little bit of the makeup of a lot of the good teams in this league,” McAvoy said.
“He’s big. He’s mean. He’s angry. He has s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁. He has all the things that I think you need. He’s someone who everybody has to know when he is out on the ice, and I think that that’s someone that you really want to have on your team.”Boston Bruins prioritized defense over offense this offseason
The Boston Bruins have improved their defense by signing Nikita Zadorov and center Elias Lindholm, using most of their available cap space.
Despite the team’s offensive woes in the playoffs, general manager Don Sweeney appears to have chosen to bolster defense over offense. Last season, Boston’s postseason scoring plummeted to an average of 2.17 goals per game against the Panthers.
Sweeney thinks the team could use another top-six winger but prioritized defense. This decision boosts the team’s overall structure. While this move strengthens the Boston Bruins’s defense, it puts pressure on the team to generate more offense with the current roster.
