Home / Sports / Bruins Adjust McAvoy's PK Role for Peak Performance
Bruins Adjust McAvoy's PK Role for Peak Performance
7 Sep
Summary
- McAvoy's penalty kill time was reduced to preserve energy.
- Will Borgen was acquired to help share defensive responsibilities.
- Bruins' playoff penalty kill saw significant improvement.
Charlie McAvoy's substantial penalty-killing duties with the Boston Bruins are being adjusted. Last season, McAvoy led the team with 2:48 of shorthanded ice time per game, a career-high mark. The team aims to reduce this load, as expressed by Marco Sturm, to ensure McAvoy maintains energy for other aspects of his game.
This strategic adjustment was a factor in the acquisition of defenseman Will Borgen. General Manager Don Sweeney highlighted Borgen's attributes, including his skating and defensive zone competitiveness, as beneficial for sharing penalty-killing responsibilities. Borgen averaged 2:13 per game on the penalty kill last season with the Rangers.
The Bruins' penalty kill ranked 24th overall last season, but saw a marked improvement during the playoffs, going 23-for-24 against the Sabres. While McAvoy's penalty kill role will be adjusted, the team is not removing him from it entirely, focusing instead on maintaining his overall effectiveness.
