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Defenseman Charlie McAvoy is one of the Boston Bruins’ cornerstone players and has shown how solid the team’s foundation is this season. The Bruins, who set regular season records for wins and points in 2022-23, overcame offseason adversity to once again challenge for the league lead in points.
McAvoy appeared on ESPN’s “The Drop” podcast this week and talked about the Bruins, playing for Team USA in the upcoming Quad Tournament, a potential shot at Olympic gold, this Sunday’s Super Bowl selection, He then talked about his history with football as a player. He is an avid New York Giants fan. enjoy!
Note: The interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Q. The Bruins have one of the best storylines of the season so far. After losing several key players and suffering a devastating loss in the first round of the playoffs, they are once again closing in on the President’s Trophy. Has this season surprised you at all? Or were you convinced the Bruins still had a season like this in store?
McAvoy: I was certainly surprised. Let me tell you. I won’t hide it. we lost many people. Maybe it’s because of the outside noise, but I think I’ve taken on the role of the underdog this year. I think our team was the same way. When we started connecting our identities and winning more and more hockey games, I was like, “How are we doing this?” And somehow it just clicked. Well, this isn’t luck. We were a really good hockey team again.
Is it built the same as last year? No, not at all. We are currently a team that goes deep against line rushers. We’re more of a “wasting behind the net” type than cycling, so our skill play is at a high level. This year we’re doing it completely differently.
But the goalie remained the same. The defense remained the same. There are new players up front, but those two pillars were still there. He was familiar with our structure. So it worked out really well.
Q. You are an American hockey player. Big international hockey news from the NHL All-Star Game. Let’s start with next season’s four-nation showdown between the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. What do you think about that tournament?
McAvoy: I thought it was really cool. I’m really excited about the prospect of playing hockey again with Team USA. These are some of my best hockey memories and I am always honored. Ever since I first saw it, I had a dream of becoming an Olympic athlete. When they almost won the gold medal in 2010, I remember sitting on the couch watching that game with my family and remembering how special it was. I internalize that and think, “That’s where I want to be.”
I thought it would be the last time I got it [at the Olympics in 2022]. As exciting as it was, it was just as disappointing when it was cancelled. I hope there are no unforeseen events that could cause problems with this. I think if I do everything I can, I can play for that team.
Q. People don’t realize how close the relationship was with the Chinese government. Did I mention you need to submit measurements for Ralph Lauren’s Opening and Closing Ceremony costumes?
McAvoy: We went so far as to create a long list of [of players]. I had a Zoom call with the coaching staff and general manager. That means we have all the players who have the potential to join the team. We gave them our home address so they could come and do a drug test and do a physical at the ceremony.
The season has fully entered winter. I think the phone call came as February approached and then when everyone got together. [COVID] An outbreak has occurred. It was just cool because you’re doing all these things and you’re excited about it. But if it does happen, this one could be just as exciting. I would appreciate it if you could.
When it comes to the Four Nations, they have Boston and Montreal, two of the best cities in the league. If I get to play, that little bit of home ice will be great for me.
I know there are only four teams. [David Pastrnak] I was a little upset because the Czech Republic is a great hockey country. But as I understood it, it was just something they put together in a short period of time. This will be the first step towards a Hockey World Cup where everyone can play.
Q. Okay, here’s your chance. Tell myself and the rest of the American people that we’re going to eventually beat Canada and win the gold medal in one of these tournaments.
McAvoy: I’m not going to post on the bulletin board right now. [Laughs] But I recently had this conversation with the player base and the talent that USA Hockey has. If you look around you, there are American stars at every position in the league. So I think that kind of change is happening now. I think it’s less like, “How far can they go?” and more like, “Hey, why don’t we go over there and make some real noise?”
Q. Charlie, you’re an NFL playoff prognosticator on ESPN’s hockey podcast The Drop, and you’re 7-5 this postseason.
McAvoy: Ah, the money is positive. [Laughs] I love soccer. Outside of hockey, football has always been my favorite sport. I played as long as I could. I love watching college football. I love that the NFL coincides with our season. I don’t think there’s ever a better time of the year. Late August to September, when preparations for soccer and hockey seasons begin.
Q. When you say you played it, did you also play it at school when you were a child?
McAvoy: I played Pop Warner and then played through seventh grade. So when I had to join a middle school team, it was just too much. There were hockey games every weekend throughout the fall. So, you’re missing those games anyway, and practice doesn’t overlap with that either. To be honest, I played lacrosse the longest.
Q. Was there a point in the multiverse where you could have been? [Giants tight end] Mark Bavaro? For example, you were always going to get good at hockey, right?
McAvoy: I don’t think I could ever be Mark Bavaro. [Laughs] When I was a kid, I was big and played like a running back or linebacker. In fact, I went to a Giants game with my dad and bought him a Mark Bavaro jersey. But you never know, so I wish I could have played longer. I gave up too soon, but I don’t think I would have done that…I don’t know if I had the intangible qualities to be a footballer.
Q. OK, don’t keep people waiting, Charlie: What’s your pick for Super Bowl 58?
McAvoy: I don’t understand why you can resist [Patrick] Mahomes in this situation. To be honest, I really don’t understand why they are such losers. He has been there many times. A record is a record. You think they picked them to lose in the divisional round, and then you find out the guy is 7-0 in the divisional round and you’re like, “He’s a conference championship contender every year.” Sho. So now I’m going to let the numbers work for me. I think it’s going to be really hard to play against the Chiefs here, and I think their defense is probably the best they’ve ever been, even better than last year.
I looked at the Niners. They did everything they could to lose a playoff game, but somehow they got through. That’s clearly a good test. Maybe now they’re going to flip a switch and kick Kansas City out right now. But I don’t know. You have to show me that. The Chiefs had to take a difficult path. So they went into the game against Baltimore and against Buffalo and won both games. They have to give us Mahomes in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Q. Lastly, what do you think about the whole Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey thing?
McAvoy: I think it’s pretty cool. The other day she joked about it because her wife loves Taylor Swift and I’m not embarrassed to say that I listen to Taylor Swift too. she is an icon. But, she said, I don’t think she could date a hockey player. [Laughs] Some say the revenue she has brought to the NFL is incredible and has helped her own brand in the process. But I wondered if Jack Hughes or someone else could have slipped into her DMs.
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