Charlie McAvoy just gave Jim Montgomery and the entire fanbase a massive lift by taking the ice for Thursday night warmups.

The star defenseman is fresh off a grueling run at the Winter Olympics. Winning a Gold Medal usually demands a few days of rest and recovery.

Most people around the league fully expected him to be a healthy scratch tonight. The travel alone from Italy is brutal on the body.

That is clearly not the way the elite blueliner operates. He strapped on his skates and joined his teammates for the pregame routine.

Bruins beat reporter Conor Ryan spotted the defenseman participating in drills just minutes before the scheduled puck drop.

Ryan quickly fired off the update to the delight of the team's rabid fanbase.

The energy in the building shifted the second number 73 stepped out of the locker room tunnel. Fans immediately recognized the freshly minted Olympic champion.

His unexpected presence provides a massive emotional lift to a locker room getting back into the NHL grind. You cannot teach that level of dedication.

No Time To Rest

The defensive structure relies heavily on his ability to shut down top lines. He plays hard minutes against the best talent in the world.

He drives the transition game and initiates crisp passing sequences out of the defensive zone. This keeps the opponent stuck playing on their heels.

With 38 points already in the bank this year, his offensive output from the back end is heavily relied upon. He constantly generates scoring chances.

He also anchors the top power play unit and dictates the pace of the game. That unit looks entirely different when he is directing traffic.

Getting him back into the lineup immediately prevents any sort of post-Olympic hangover for the roster. It sets a clear standard for the rest of the locker room.

Management clearly trusts his elite conditioning after grinding through the high-stakes international tournament. He is built for these demanding stretches of hockey.

A fully healthy and motivated McAvoy turns this roster into an absolute nightmare for visiting teams. He dominates the ice in all three zones.

It's a regular Thursday night game, but it just gained a serious jolt of adrenaline. Opposing forwards are going to have a long, frustrating night.