Charlie McAvoy reveals extreme weight loss after jaw surgery

Charlie McAvoy knows exactly when he realized he was in trouble. The Boston Bruins defenseman suffered a slap shot directly to the face in Montreal, resulting in a linear jaw fracture that required surgery earlier this month.

Speaking to the media following Friday’s practice, where he skated with a non-contact jersey and a full face visor on his helmet, McAvoy revealed the physical toll of the injury. He’s lost nearly 20 pounds, restricted to an all-liquid diet, and was warned not to try putting solid foods in a blender, joking that they are not meant to be consumed that way.

Doctors told him it will be roughly six weeks from surgery before he can return to solid foods.

While the recap of his physical trouble during recovery is intense, it was easy to notice that McAvoy was happy to be around his teammates again. He made sure to thank them, the team’s staff and his family during this hard time.

“My family, the guys, the support of the staff… everybody is in our corner… that just means the world to me.”

This isn’t McAvoy’s first major setback. Last year, a right-shoulder AC joint injury suffered during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament ended his season after complications, including an associated infection. Yet despite the challenges, McAvoy has been the backbone of Boston’s defense this season, posting 14 assists and logging heavy minutes in all situations.

The Bruins will be counting on their star defenseman to recover quickly, and McAvoy’s focus remains on returning stronger than ever.