BUFFALO – Early in Gavin McCarthy’s second season at Boston University, coach Jay Pandolfo believes the Sabres prospect put too much pressure on himself.
The Terriers, having just lost three defensemen from their Frozen Four squad, thrust the Clarence native into a bigger, more demanding role alongside freshman defenseman Cole Hutson last season.
McCarthy, then just 19, a tender age for a sophomore in college hockey, responded by starting the campaign slowly.
“He probably had really high expectations for himself,” Pandolfo told the Times Herald.
The 6-foot-2, 194-pound McCarthy wasn’t the only one struggling. The Terriers, a team filled with teenagers adjusting to their new roles in the NCAA, stumbled out of the gate.
In the opening weeks, Pandolfo said McCarthy and the aggressive Hutson, whose 48 points tied for the lead among NCAA defensemen, “were still trying to figure each other out.”
Pandolfo said getting scored against likely sapped some of their confidence. But as the season progressed, the duo developed strong chemistry.
“We’re new D partners, it just took a while for us, and once we got there, I think it went really well,” McCarthy said July 1 following a session of development camp in LECOM Harborcenter
McCarthy, of course, is the more defensive presence. Still, he considers himself a two-way defender.
“I think we complement each other really well,” said McCarthy, a third-round pick in 2023, 86th overall. “We use each other a lot in the offensive zone. … I try to jump in the play when I can.
“But when he’s going, he’s going, and that works a lot for our team. And when that’s happening, I just got to play what’s right for the team in order for us to win.”
Pandolfo said McCarthy adjusts his style alongside Hutson, who regularly takes chances down low in the opponent’s zone, and probably sacrifices some of his offense.
“His confidence is unreal, like, no moment fazes him,” McCarthy said of Hutson, whose brother, Lane, a Montreal Canadiens defenseman, recently won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. “His skills speak for themselves – how great of a skater (he is), his edges and puck handling. … He’s never afraid to try anything with the puck, keep it on a stick for however long he wants to, and he capitalizes on it a lot of the time.”
It’s no coincidence the Terriers found a groove and roared to the national championship game – they lost to Western Michigan University – after McCarthy and Hutson morphed into one of college hockey’s elite defense tandems.
“Gavin showed that he’s capable playing with a high-level player like that,” Pandolfo said.
While Hutson’s slick exploits garner more attention, McCarthy, a right shot, has quietly matured into a strong NHL prospect. He registered three goals and 16 points in 39 games last season.
“Once he settled in, (McCarthy) had an excellent, excellent season for us, and we expect even better this year for him,” Pandolfo said. “He’s going to be a big part of our leadership group. We’re a really young team.”
Pandolfo, who won two Stanley Cups as a player with the New Jersey Devils, said he envisions McCarthy will develop into “a middle-pair defenseman.”
“He’s really good defensively, really good on the penalty kill,” he said. “He has enough offensive ability to chip in offensively, because he can make a good pass. He’s got a good shot, good release. …
“He’ll eat minutes, kill penalties. You can play him against the other team’s top player because he defends really well. That’s the one area he’s gotten a lot better is his stick and his angles, because he’s long.”