The Boston Bruins were hit with some tough news about their star defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who just underwent facial surgery after taking a puck to the face.
“Charlie had a facial surgery. Successfully. So he’s doing good,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm told The Sporting Tribune. “He’s recovering right now at home, and we still don’t know how long he’s gonna be out for.”
The injury happened during a game against the Montreal Canadiens on November 15, when Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson’s slapshot accidentally caught McAvoy in the face during the second period.
While the exact nature of the injury hasn’t been revealed, these kinds of facial injuries typically keep players out for six to eight weeks.
It’s a huge blow for the Bruins, who’ve been surprisingly good this season. They’re sitting pretty in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 12-9-0 record through their first 21 games.
McAvoy has been a big reason for their success. The 2016 first-round pick had already racked up 14 assists in 19 games this season, while leading the team in ice time by nearly two and a half minutes per game.
The Bruins have moved rookie Jonathan Aspirot up to fill McAvoy’s spot alongside Nikita Zadorov on the top defensive pair. But that’s likely just a temporary fix if they want to stay competitive.
There’s more at stake than just the Bruins’ season, though. McAvoy was one of the first six players picked for Team USA’s 2026 Winter Olympics roster. If his recovery takes the full eight weeks, he’d be back around mid-January – cutting it close for the Olympics.
The Long Beach, NY native hasn’t been placed on injured reserve yet, but he’s already missed one game. The Bruins will be holding their breath waiting for a more definite timeline on their defensive star’s return.
