Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy didn’t hold back Thursday when reflecting on the most difficult year of his career.
The Bruins' star placed the blame for his and the team’s downfall squarely on the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, where he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that led to hospitalization and left Boston out of the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“Mentally, emotionally, physically, I’ve gone through so much because of that damn experience,” McAvoy said. “It cost me my season. It cost me my sanity in a lot of ways.
“None of this has been easy, and I get emotional when I talk about it.”
McAvoy played in 50 games this season before being forced out of the lineup in mid-February following a cross-check from Finland’s Joel Armia.
The injury was compounded when a pain-killing injection before Team USA’s next game led to a staph infection.
“The infection was moving pretty fast after that,” McAvoy told The Athletic on March 26. “It got very serious, very quick. Another thing I’m trying to leave in the past, really. It was scary. It was scary on me. Scary on my family, mostly.”
McAvoy later required a procedure and spent several days hospitalized at Mass General.
“It could’ve been anything,” McAvoy said. “There’s no ill will, but you think I don’t want to blame somebody for this?”
With McAvoy sidelined, the Bruins collapsed down the stretch. Boston went 6–15–4 in their final 25 games and finished last in the Atlantic Division at 33–39–10.
He finished the season with a career-low 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 50 games while averaging 23:40 minutes per game and posting a neutral (zero) plus/minus valuation.
“This year, I don’t even feel like I played hockey,” McAvoy said. “It’s disheartening in every way. You’re watching your friends struggle, and you can’t help them.”
McAvoy finished on a positive note, confirming his shoulder won’t require further treatment and saying he has no restrictions this offseason as he enters it focused on putting the year behind him.
“I’m excited to put a close on this chapter," McAvoy said. "Be done with it, honestly. Just move on.”
