Quoting: ON3M4N
I guess I'd pose the question: Do we really need a legit top pairing guy to play w/ McAvoy?
Don't get me wrong it'd be great, but for years Chara was given fridge 2nd pairing guys and more times than not was given 3rd pairing talent or rookies. So why couldn't McAvoy make it work w/ someone that plays a similar style to Chara? A defensive minded guy that doesn't need to be a major offensive threat, but can cover the backend so McAvoy can get engaged offensively.
I personally think that guy is in house and when Chara is set to retire he'll move up with McAvoy. That guy is Lauzon. If everyone develops the way that I'm hope they do, I think the following top 4 could be interesting 3-4 years from now.
Lauzon - McAvoy
Zboril - Carlo
I guess my concern with that is that if you pair up an elite player with McAvoy, then you can kill the other team in whatever minutes that pair plays. Giving McAvoy a weaker partner (say, a #4) means that they won't be as effective in the minutes he plays, and you need a better group on the second pair. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think Carlo is going to get a whole lot better than he is now, and I'm not sure I bank on Zboril to be that kinda player on the second pair. Is Krug-Carlo really a plus or a double-plus second pair? I'm not sure the answer is yes.
There's also the separate issue of everyone developing as expected, but I digress.
Quoting: BreKel
I know Chara is 40, but I think he plays another season. So by then, Zboril and Lauzon would have close to two full seasons at the AHL level, assuming that they don't make the team going into next season (which as of right now, I don't know see a spot, assuming Grzelcyk is here. Chara will be back and Krug is already under contract). Vaakanainen may be young, but he's been playing professional in Liiga 16-17 years old. He currently leads his Liiga team in TOI for defenseman as a 19 year old. playing 22 minutes a night. His game would compliment McAvoy's well. He's a great skater and sound in his own end.
Unless Chara retires after this season, or the Bruins go out and acquire a McDonagh, it's hard to really predict an outside signing/trade right now for the future. By the time we really need to worry about a partner for McAvoy, he'll have, at least, 2 seasons of NHL experience under his belt. By then, he may be able to carry a 'rookie' or a guy with limited experience.
That's a good point. I didn't really consider that. I only watched Urho at the World Juniors: wasn't too impressed but that's not really his game anyway. I can't remember him getting walked.
There might also be an interesting discussion to be had (potentially this season, if Chara rests a few games) of pairing Grzelcyk with McAvoy. Grzelcyk plays a very different game from Chara, so it would be an adjustment for McAvoy, but Grzelcyk's numbers in a bottom pairing role have been excellent. Is there a legitimate conversation to be had about him being a good partner for McAvoy?