Feb 19, 2020; Anaheim, California, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle (3) against the Anaheim Ducks in the third period at Honda Center. The Panthers defeated the Ducks 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins were uncharacteristically thin on serviceable defensemen this past season. With former captain, Zdeno Chara and power-play quarterback, Torey Krug both departing via free agency, in their wake, the burden of picking up the slack fell largely on young unproven players in Boston’s system, to varying degrees of success.
Now, if healthy, a Bruins’ top-four of Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, Brandon Carlo, and the recently retired Kevan Miller would have been more than enough to crunch difficult minutes against top-tier competition.