Bruins Have a New Defensive Luxury, and Their California Road Trip Will Put It to the Test originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Bruins have given their fans plenty of reasons to feel encouraged during the opening weeks of the NHL season. Their offense has produced timely goals, Jeremy Swayman has delivered important saves, and a three-game winning streak has pushed the team to a 5-2-0 record.
Now the Bruins have something they did not possess during their first six games.
Charlie McAvoy is back.
The veteran defenseman made his season debut Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks after completing a six-game suspension. He immediately made an impact, scoring during Boston's 6-3 victory.
His return provides head coach Marco Sturm with another important piece of a defensive group that has already helped the Bruins establish early momentum. However, the next challenge is about more than getting McAvoy back into the lineup. Boston must determine how much better its overall defensive performance can become with one of its most important players available again.
McAvoy's Return Gives Boston More Options
McAvoy's impact extends beyond the goal he scored against San Jose. The Bruins can use him in demanding defensive situations, rely on his ability to move the puck out of danger and benefit from his willingness to contribute offensively. His presence also gives the coaching staff greater flexibility when distributing responsibilities among its defensemen.
Catching up with Charlie McAvoy. https://t.co/qzYVALH1f9
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 12, 2026
Against the Sharks, Boston paired McAvoy with Hampus Lindholm, creating an experienced combination capable of handling significant assignments. That partnership could become particularly valuable during a demanding stretch of road games. The Bruins face Anaheim on Friday before continuing their California trip against Los Angeles.
McAvoy's return also allows other defensemen to settle into more defined roles. Nikita Zadorov, Will Borgen, Mason Lohrei and the rest of Boston's defensive group can contribute without the coaching staff having to compensate for the absence of its top right-shot defenseman.
However, one player's return does not automatically eliminate defensive mistakes.
The Bruins surrendered three goals against San Jose and needed 35 saves from Swayman. Sturm acknowledged afterward that Boston had been sloppy at times and committed too many turnovers.
Those are the details the Bruins must continue addressing.
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Anaheim Presents Another Opportunity to Improve
Friday's matchup with the Ducks offers an interesting challenge. Anaheim enters the game with a 4-2-0 record and features young offensive talent capable of creating problems for opposing defenses. Leo Carlsson and Beckett Sennecke are among the players Boston must account for, while Mikael Granlund provides another experienced offensive option.
The Bruins cannot assume their winning streak will continue simply because McAvoy has returned. They need disciplined puck management, strong defensive positioning and consistent support from their forwards. Boston has shown it can produce offense from throughout the lineup, but sustained success will also require limiting the quality of opportunities opponents generate.
Swayman has been an important part of the Bruins' early success. He made 35 saves against San Jose after previously helping Boston defeat Philadelphia and Utah.
Still, the Bruins would prefer not to depend on their goaltender making difficult saves every night.
That is where McAvoy's return becomes especially valuable. His presence should improve Boston's ability to control difficult situations, although the coaching staff will need time to evaluate how the defensive combinations perform together.
The Bruins have already demonstrated that they can win games without McAvoy. Now they have an opportunity to show how much stronger they can become with him. Friday's game in Anaheim will provide another useful indication of whether Boston's encouraging start can develop into something more substantial.