The Boston Bruins announced that defenseman Charlie McAvoy underwent facial surgery and is out indefinitely, according to Boston Globe’s Jim McBride. Head coach Marco Sturm confirmed the news to reporters Wednesday.
McAvoy was struck in the face by a slap shot during Saturday’s win against the Montreal Canadiens.
Charlie McAvoy leaves the the game after taking a puck to the face pic.twitter.com/QlsNdINYoD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 16, 2025
The injury comes during a productive season for the 27-year-old defenseman. McAvoy has tallied 14 points in 19 games this campaign while logging over 23 minutes of ice time per night.
This marks another significant injury setback for McAvoy. He missed the final 25 games of last season after sustaining a shoulder injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off. That injury led to complications when a staph infection developed, requiring additional surgery.
McAvoy was one of six players named to Team USA’s Olympic roster in June.
Durability has been a consistent challenge throughout McAvoy’s nine-season NHL career. He’s never played a complete 82-game season. His career-high came in 2021-22 when he appeared in 78 contests and finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting.
The Bruins currently sit second in the Atlantic Division with a 12-9-0 record.
