The Boston Bruins have lost one of their most important players, as the team announced that Charlie McAvoy has sprained his left MCL and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. That likely means the rookie defenseman is out for the remainder of the regular season. The injury was suffered on Saturday, when McAvoy tripped over the stick of Brendan Gallagher and fell awkwardly to the ice.
Four weeks from now would actually put McAvoy back in time to play in the last three games of the season, but the idea that he won’t even be evaluated until then is what worries Bruins fans the most. With Boston locked into a playoff spot and fighting for seeding in the Atlantic Division, they need McAvoy back at full health for the postseason. Already arguably their most important defenseman, the 20-year old rookie logs more than 22 minutes a night and is third on the team in hits.
McAvoy made an impression right away with the Bruins, after he was signed last spring and forced into action in the playoffs. In six postseason games, he averaged more than 26 minutes a night and registered three points. Without him, the team today had the deadline acquisition of Nick Holden step into an increased role alongside Torey Krug, while Brandon Carlo skated with Zdeno Chara on the top pairing.
Noooooooooo. Bruins nation will still win the Stanley Cup though. Go Pasta
Boston is good enough that even if they have him wait part of the 1st round, they should get by. Then they get a fresh 24min a night, young, offensive d-man to add to their run. Not necessarily a terrible thing that this happened now.