Bruins Face Setback as Charlie McAvoy Sidelines Following Surgery
Boston Bruins fans received unsettling news as defenseman Charlie McAvoy is set to be out indefinitely after undergoing facial surgery. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Bruins coach Marco Sturm, leaving the team without their top blueliner for an unspecified period.
The injury occurred during Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens when McAvoy took a slapshot to the face off the stick of Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson. The puck deflected off Bruins forward Mark Kastelic before hitting McAvoy near the mouth. McAvoy immediately left the game and was transported to a local hospital. He did not play in Monday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Coach Sturm addressed the media, stating that McAvoy is recovering at home, but there is no set timetable for his return. The loss of McAvoy is a significant blow to the Bruins, as he plays a crucial role on the team, leading the Bruins in average ice time per game, clocking in at 23:46. This season, McAvoy has tallied 14 assists in 19 games.
McAvoy's absence further compounds the Bruins' injury woes. The team is currently missing forwards Elias Lindholm, Viktor Arvidsson, and Casey Mittelstadt, all nursing lower-body injuries. Additionally, defenseman Jordan Harris is recovering from ankle surgery.
The 27-year-old McAvoy is in his ninth season with the Bruins, since being drafted 14th overall in 2016. Throughout his NHL career, he has recorded 60 goals and 254 assists in 523 games, also contributing 6 goals and 42 assists in 91 playoff games. McAvoy is currently in the fourth year of an eight-year, $76 million contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million.
This is not the first time McAvoy's health has been a concern. He missed the final 25 games of last season after suffering a shoulder injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February, while representing Team USA. The injury led to a staph infection requiring surgery. Despite the previous injury, McAvoy was named to the USA's Olympic roster in June.
The Bruins, who missed the playoffs last season, currently hold the second spot in the Atlantic Division with a record of 12-9-0. In McAvoy's absence, the Bruins' defense will likely feature Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, and Mason Lohrei on the left side, along with Henri Jokiharju, Andrew Peeke, and Jonathan Aspirot on the right. The team has already felt McAvoy's absence, suffering a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. The Bruins are currently on a three-game road trip, which began Wednesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.
