Charlie McAvoy, a defenseman for the Boston Bruins and U.S. Olympian, is currently recovering at home following facial surgery after being struck by a puck during a game against the Montreal Canadiens. The incident occurred mid-game on November 15 when McAvoy was hit by a shot from Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson, leading to a notable injury that prompted immediate medical attention. Bruins head coach Marco Sturm confirmed on November 19 that while McAvoy is in recovery, there is currently no set timetable for his return to play.
Prior to his injury, McAvoy had been a pivotal player for the Bruins, averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game and contributing 14 assists in 19 games this season. His absence is a significant blow for the team, particularly as McAvoy is also one of the early selections for Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. He is now the fifth player from that group to face injuries this season.
In addition to McAvoy, other U.S. Olympians are dealing with injury concerns. Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers is recovering from offseason hernia surgery and is expected to return to physical activity in under two weeks. Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators is healing from thumb surgery and could be back on the ice soon, while Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes recently returned to play after dealing with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, Auston Matthews from the Toronto Maple Leafs is on the injured list due to a lower-body injury he sustained on November 11, but he has shown signs of improvement.
Notably, Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, also in consideration for the Olympic team, recently underwent surgery on his finger after an unfortunate incident at a team dinner and is expected to be out for approximately eight weeks.
Despite the challenges presented by these injuries, there is hope for a strong recovery for the players, particularly McAvoy, who has consistently proven to be a key asset for both his team and national squad. The deadline for finalizing Olympic rosters is December 31, which adds a layer of urgency for the affected players to recuperate and return to form.