McAvoy: 'It's Been Incredible' Learning from Chara

BostonBruins.com - Charlie McAvoy didn't hesitate.

When asked if there was one player from NHL history that he would have liked the opportunity to play with, the young blue liner was quite direct. It's No. 4.

"I would have to say I'd play with Bobby Orr," McAvoy said during a virtual Town Hall with Bruins season ticket holders and their children on Tuesday. "He is without a doubt the best defenseman in NHL history, Bruins legend. Just an unbelievable guy.

"Having him on the left and I'll play the right, he can just go and rush the puck all day. I'll stay back for him. That would just be incredible."

While that scenario is, obviously, one reserved for McAvoy's dreams, his current defense partner is also of legendary status. For the past three seasons, the 22-year-old has been paired with Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who like Orr is likely headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame when his career comes to a close.

"Playing with Zee has been incredible," McAvoy said when asked who his favorite player to play with is right now. "He's just such a great guy. He's our leader. And all that he's been able to do in his hockey career. It's just incredible. He's a future Hall of Famer.

"He just has so much - it's hard to even find the words to explain it. Just how he is and how he handles himself, playing with him is awesome. It's something I'll tell my kids about someday that I was able to play with the big man."

Naturally, the Long Beach, N.Y., native has picked up plenty of habits - both on and off the ice - from Chara during their time together, all of which he continues to try to perfect as his career progresses.

"There's something you can get better at every day," said McAvoy. "For me, my focus coming in was to get better defensively. Growing up and through college it was about getting [the puck] and go, rush it, be up in the play. That's something I still try to do, but I've definitely tried to become more responsible at it and grow my defensive game.

"Been lucky and fortunate that I'm trusted to play against these top guys on NHL teams. It's very hard, it's humbling playing against the best. I try very hard to shut them down when I can. Just learned a lot from Zee on that side of the puck…the more games you play the more you learn. You get put in different situations and learn from that."

McAvoy also touched on a number of other topics during the 30-minute question and answer session.

On when he started skating as a defenseman…

"My dad was my coach growing up. Naturally, we all wanted to score all the goals and be the sniper I guess and follow that. I grew up and wanted to play forward and that's what I loved. My dad said everybody wants to play forward. Instead of having to talk to parents and saying your son needs to play D, he didn't give me a choice and said you're going on D.

"He put me back there. Still, wanting to be that guy, I think that's how my offensive side came into it. I still wanted to go and score and rush the puck and do all that. A lot of things I still try to do…looking back on it, I wouldn't change anything."

On his favorite Bruins memory thus far…

"Definitely making the Finals last year and going on that playoff run. Just something about it, everything about it was just incredible. Just the emotional highs that you have when you're on that run. Just every single game feels like a battle in the grand scheme of a war. After every single win you hug each other a little tighter, you appreciate the moment a little more.

"I don't think there's anything better than winning a playoff series. It's just so emotional. You get in the locker room and everyone's hugging each other, and you feel so accomplished. Everybody telling each other how much they love each other, there's something about it that's kind of magical.

"We were able to go on that run and come together and I hope that we have a chance to do it again. It was so awesome and I'll have that memory forever."

On the best NHL 20 video game player on the Bruins…

"This pains me to say, but our best video game player doesn't even have to have the game to be better at it than you - it's Jake DeBrusk. He's got the skills and every time we play it [ticks] me off because he'll beat me in every game. He's good to have on your game if you're playing video games and it's a two-player game, that's for sure…I'm no slouch in NHL, I'm pretty good."