The 4 Nations Face-Off delivered some intense and exciting hockey to the fans and ended with the much-awaited clash of USA and Canada at the TD Garden. However, for the Boston Bruins, the tournament proved to be a serious headache. One of their best star defenseman and Team USA player, Charlie McAvoy, sustained an AC joint injury in his right shoulder during the game against Finland on February 13. And just when you thought that was bad enough, he pushed through the pain last Saturday in Montréal against Canada—only to land in a much scarier situation.

An infection in that same shoulder sent him straight to Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday night, causing the Bruins to become restless. By Wednesday morning, the Bruins wasted no time setting the record straight. Their medical staff examined McAvoy as soon as Team USA touched down in Boston and immediately pointed out the infection as well as what they described as a severe AC joint sprain. And now that the 4 Nations dust has settled, Boston’s GM is stepping in to clear the air on McAvoy’s road to recovery.

Is Charlie McAvoy set to make a comeback?

When the Boston Bruins dropped a video, all eyes were on Don Sweeney as he fielded questions about Charlie McAvoy’s injury. One journalist didn’t hold back and straight-up asked, “Don, I just want to be clear. So, Charlie, it’s a play against Canada. So who made the final decision?” But Sweeney wasn’t here for the deep dive. “Again, we’re beyond all that,” he said, keeping it short and steering clear of any extra drama. He made it clear that McAvoy will have the chance to speak for himself when he’s ready to return, but for now, the focus is on moving forward.

Sweeney doubled down on the team’s approach, saying, “We gave it a specific timeline” and emphasizing that they’re sticking to it. He also made sure to shout out the medical staff, adding, “We’re grateful for the care that he got and how he’s feeling now.” No unnecessary details, no over-the top explanations—just a firm assurance that McAvoy’s well-being was top priority. Fans might be itching to know more, but it looks like they’ll have to wait until McAvoy himself is ready to break the silence.

Fresh off the 4 Nations break, the Bruins hit the ice against the Ducks, only to have Leo Carlsson snatch the win in OT 3-2 at TD Garden. Now, with a showdown against the Maple Leafs looming around the corner on February 25, Boston’s lineup is looking a little shaky. Charlie’s still out, and he’s not the only one riding on the bench. With another key player sidelined, the fate of this game is beyond anyone’s guess!

Another Bruins’ star remains sidelined!

The Bruins’ blue line just took a massive hit, and Don Sweeney wasn’t sugarcoating it. Hampus Lindholm? “Unlikely” to return this season. Charlie McAvoy? Still no word on the timeline. Lindholm, who was once inching toward a comeback, is now officially sidelined, with lingering knee issues keeping him out of action. “The healing process has gone long and gone well,” Sweeney said, but Boston isn’t rushing for him to be back. With the NHL playoffs slipping further out of reach, the Bruins decided to play it safe rather than force a return.

And McAvoy? His situation is even murkier. The 27-year-old warrior played through his injury during Team USA’s clash with Canada, but that decision may have cost him big. The Bruins were reportedly not happy with how Team USA handled it, but Sweeney took the high road. “The care that Charlie received here is what’s most important,” he said. Now, Boston’s waiting to see if their top defenseman will make it back before the season wraps up.

With both Lindholm and McAvoy out, the Bruins are rolling with a six-man D-unit featuring Carlo, Zadorov, Lohrei, Peeke, Wotherspoon, and Callahan. But let’s be real—without their top guys, that blue line is looking shaky. If Boston wants to dominate again, they’ll need their stars back, and fast!