HENDERSON, Nevada – Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is beginning the 2025-26 season with a profound sense of gratitude. Having overcome a severe injury and a subsequent life-threatening infection, McAvoy`s health is restored, and his perspective has deepened, as he recently recounted his challenging ordeal.
During a session for the 32 Thoughts podcast with hosts Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas, McAvoy expressed immense appreciation for the medical professionals who treated him. “I just can’t thank [the doctors] enough,” he shared.
McAvoy`s troubles began during the February 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, where he suffered an injury to his right shoulder’s acromioclavicular (AC) joint while representing Team USA. The situation quickly escalated when a dangerous staph infection developed in the injured shoulder, necessitating urgent surgery.
The severity of the infection was alarming; doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital discovered it was migrating from his shoulder down towards his heart. “So now you’re getting really worried,” McAvoy recalled, emphasizing the critical nature of the threat.
Thankfully, rapid medical intervention proved successful, halting the infection`s progression. It was particularly fortunate that the 4 Nations tournament had relocated to Boston, allowing Bruins team physicians to provide timely and crucial assistance.
Compounding the stress, McAvoy and his wife, Kiley, had celebrated the birth of their first child, Rhys, just weeks before the tournament. He described this period as incredibly difficult: “It was just a tough time. I had a newborn at home. It was just a lot to deal with. Our support system was so great.”
While McAvoy believed he might have been able to rejoin the team towards the end of the regular season, the Bruins` unexpected absence from the playoffs for the first time in his career led to a prudent decision. There was no justifiable reason to risk a potential setback.
Observing from the sidelines as key players were traded at the deadline and his remaining teammates battled on, McAvoy admitted feeling restless and powerless. He could only watch as Boston`s impressive eight-year post-season streak came to an end, describing it as “extremely frustrating.”
Despite these challenges, McAvoy is now revitalized and highly motivated for the upcoming Olympic year. He credits his most extensive off-season training regimen to date for his enhanced physical and mental readiness.
His shoulder is completely healed, but a powerful sense of determination remains. “We have everything to prove,” McAvoy declared. “This is the first time in my career that we’re going into this year probably not being considered a playoff team by many. In my mind, we’re a playoff team every day of the week.”
He expressed unwavering confidence in his team`s capabilities: “We have everything we need. We have more than enough on this roster to achieve that. So, that’s our primary objective.”
McAvoy concluded with a clear statement of the team`s resolve: “Our standards do not waver, irrespective of external opinions about our potential. We`ve brought in players like Viktor Arvidsson, Tanner Jeannot, and Sean Kuraly who will make us a formidable opponent. We are committed to embracing that identity, and we will be a tough team to eliminate.”
