McAvoy said that while he's been monitoring how he's feeling internally, he's also been working closely with team doctors to determine when his shoulder is structurally sound enough for game action.
"You always have to get to a comfortable point where they feel like the healing, the integrity of the injury, the healing has to be sure," said McAvoy. "We've got to be sure of that. So, that's really the most important step.
"And then from there, obviously, it's feeling, it's listening to your body. It's accomplishing things that you need to do in order to return to play."
Along those lines, McAvoy said he has been working toward integrating more body contact as the latest step in his progress, while admitting that it's difficult to get a true feel for that during practice.
"You try your best. And that's something that we're working on right now, continuing to do it and getting in the battles and lifting sticks hard, guys trying to be out taking that contact and trying to feel good," said McAvoy.
"That's something that's big, especially as a defenseman, feeling confident when you're going back on pucks that whatever position you're in, you're going to be able to make the play and you're not going to be worrying about that contact. It's hard to mimic the game. It really is. But I think we've done a good job of trying."
During Wednesday's practice at Warrior Ice Arena, McAvoy skated alongside Hampus Lindholm, reuniting what was Boston's top pairing at times last spring following Lindholm's arrival at the trade deadline.
"He's been playing awesome hockey as well as all the defensemen. Everybody really who's been coming in," said McAvoy. "To watch these guys every night has been amazing. Lindy certainly has looked incredible, and he's been playing amazing and it's been really fun to watch as have other guys, too…if I do get to play with Lindy, that'll be a blast. He's a great defenseman, so definitely make my life easy."
Ultimately, McAvoy added, he'll be pleased to play with anybody on Boston's back end.
"I don't really mind who I play with," said McAvoy. "We have a lot of really special defenders on this team, so no matter who I'm with, it's always the same for me as I try and make their life easier. And I know that they try to do the same and feed off each other to play a good game."
Montgomery, meanwhile, is excited about the different possibilities that he has in front of him when it comes to determining his defense pairings moving forward.
"I guess with how diverse our back end is, it gives us a lot of options depending on who we're playing, what we want to match up with McAvoy or Lindholm or [Brandon] Carlo, Grizz," he said. "You get [Derek] Forbort back [from injury]…we're really deep back there with options of who we can use with who."
