BUFFALO — The Bruins, in need of invigorating their defensive corps, chose Boston University defenseman Charlie McAvoy with the 14th overall pick Friday night in the first round of NHL’s amateur entry draft before a full house at First Niagara Center.
Expected to return to BU for his sophomore season this fall, the 18-year-old McAvoy models his game after star Los Angles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, this year’s Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenseman.
“He’s got all the traits that I feel I have,’’ said McAvoy, who is an exceptionally strong skater and impressed the BU staff with his ability to engage in the physical game. “I want to continue to grow in [Doughty’s style]. If at my peak I can be [like Doughty], I’m not complaining.’’
With their second pick of the night, No. 29 overall, the Bruins went considerably off the ratings list and plucked St. Louis-born center Trent Frederic, a 6-2, 200-pounder who played the last two seasons with the US National Team Development Program. Widely projected as a third- or fourth-round pick, the lanky Frederic, 18, will enter the University of Wisconsin as a freshman this September.
“I guess I was a little surprised,’’ said Frederic, his build similar to that of Tom Fergus, a Bruins center from long ago. “I am pumped. I am a little speechless right now.’’
McAvoy, though sounding fully prepared to return to the Terriers this September, will be at the Bruins development camp next month. It’s highly unlikely the Bruins would try to entice him to come out of college, but stranger things have happened in a league that covets youth more and more. The Bruins could use his youthful enthusiasm and he would be an economical fit on the salary cap – two key factors for the Bruins.
“He is physically ahead of some players at this stage,’’ said Boston GM Don Sweeney. “He is playing college hockey. There have been players who have made the jump pretty quickly. We will see how this year goes. He is going to play on a really good hockey team and we will take it year by year with Charlie and his representatives — but I would be surprised if he was a four-year [college] guy, but that is his decision.’’
McAvoy is “physically mature,’’ noted Sweeney, which is NHL code for: possibly able to play in the league today.
“There is always a chance for that,’’ said Sweeney, asked if McAvoy could make a surprise push for a job in development camp. “I haven’t had a conversation with him, whether that’s something he’d be inclined to be doing . . . my first-blush opinion is, he has a chance to play with a real quality [college] hockey team, with a great staff, that he’ll learn from. I’d be comfortable if he stayed. But we’ll have conversations about where he’s headed.’’
McAvoy collected 25 points last season for the Terriers, head coach David Quinn playing him in myriad roles, particularly later in the season as McAvoy improved his physical play.
In the days leading up to the draft, rumor had it that McAvoy, who grew up on Long Island, possibly would be grabbed among the top 10 picks and the Bruins might have to make a deal to move up in the draft if they wanted to select him.
McAvoy is 6-feet, 208 pounds, certainly of thick enough stock to compete for a spot in the Boston lineup if he chose to leave school. He finished his rookie year with 3 goals and 22 assists.
‘’Speechless, lost for words, this is an unbelievable feeling and I am just so happy to be part of the Bruins,’’ said McAvoy only minutes after being drafted. “I am sure my friends back home aren’t happy that I’m kind of cuttin’ the ties with New York sports. Boston is an unbelievable city with great sports and great people . . . I am happy to be staying there.’’
McAvoy played last season with BU defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, another Bruins pick who just signed his first pro contract, and forward Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, (aka JFK), whose rights also belong to the Bruins.
“It’s crazy. I was joking with [GM Don Sweeney] . . . Grizzy and JFK, they can’t get rid of me now. They are stuck with me. They are unbelievable players and they are great people and it is going to be exciting to go through all this stuff with them.’’
One transition that awaits McAvoy: full immersion into Boston sports — tough for a kid from New York.
“You grow up, kind of taught not to like them’’ he said, referring to Boston sports at large. “But I’ ve got a Red Sox hat, so that’s the first step. And I’ve got this Bruins jersey, so that is pretty cool. I don’t know if I can be a Pats fan, but we will see.’’
The Bruins, like many NHL clubs, have some big holes on defense.
Veterans Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg showed their age last season, and Bruins management failed to deliver NHL-ready bodies to help prop up the old guard.
McAvoy could be an important building block.
“That was something I needed to work on, the defensive side of the puck,’’ he said. “I feel I made great strides throughout the year.
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com.
