The tough update Bruins didn’t want on Charlie McAvoy

The Boston Bruins were dealt another major blow on Wednesday, announcing that star defenseman Charlie McAvoy has undergone surgery, with no timetable set for his return.

The news comes just days after McAvoy took a puck directly to the face midway through the second period of Saturday’s 3–2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. He did not return to the game, and now the Bruins face the reality of being without their top blue liner for the foreseeable future.

McAvoy has been the backbone of Boston’s defense this season, posting 14 assists and logging heavy, all-situations minutes. His absence alone would be difficult to absorb, but the Bruins’ injury situation goes far deeper.

The team recently confirmed that forward Viktor Arvidsson is heading to injured reserve and is considered week-to-week with a lower-body issue. Casey Mittelstadt has also been shifted to IR, while Elias Lindholm remains out and is still only “getting closer” to returning, with no firm timeline from head coach Marco Sturm.

For Boston, this stretch feels like déjà vu. McAvoy’s latest setback follows the right-shoulder AC joint injury he suffered last year during the 4 Nations Face-Off, a complicated issue that ultimately sidelined him for the remainder of the season after an associated infection.

Now, the Bruins once again find themselves scrambling to weather life without their defensive leader. With multiple key players out at once, the pressure shifts squarely onto Boston’s depth and its ability to stay afloat in a tightening division race.

One thing is certain: when it rains, it pours in Boston.