Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy seems to have left the hospital.
The 27-year-old went on Instagram on Thursday and shared a photo of himself in a car with the caption, “Free as a bird.” The track “Free Bird” from Lynyrd Skynyrd could be spotted on the car’s dashboard as it seemed McAvoy had been released from Massachusetts General Brigham.
McAvoy suffered an injury to his right shoulder acromioclavicular during the United States’ game against Finland in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Following treatment by Team USA’s medical team, the defenseman was identified as having an infection in his right shoulder and was hospitalized at Mass. Brigham General on Tuesday.
Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan informed reporters on Thursday that McAvoy would not be dressed for the championship match against Canada at TD Garden. The star defenseman will cheer for his team as he observes from a distance.
Jeremy Swayman and Brad Marchand shared that they reached out to their Bruins teammate and verified that he was feeling positive. There is currently no information on his potential return to playing.
The absence of McAvoy is a significant blow to Team USA’s defense as they prepare to face Canada in the highly anticipated final of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The championship game is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.
In McAvoy’s absence, Team USA will rely heavily on their remaining defensive core. Notably, Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk are expected to play against Canada, despite recent injuries. Matthews, who missed the game against Sweden due to upper-body soreness, and Tkachuk, who missed the end of the first game against Canada and the loss to Sweden due to a lower-body injury, both participated in practice ahead of the game.
The rivalry between the United States and Canada has intensified leading up to the final. The initial clash between these teams included multiple fights and culminated in a 3-1 U.S. victory. Additionally, President Donald Trump called the U.S. hockey team to wish them luck ahead of their final against Canada. USA Hockey posted a photo of general manager Bill Guerin on the phone with Trump in the locker room. Players expressed excitement about Trump’s support. Trump posted that he would be watching the match, reiterating his desire for Canada to become America’s 51st state. This comment has caused tensions, with Montreal fans booing the U.S. anthem and U.S. fans lightly booing Canada’s anthem.
The Bruins organization has expressed dissatisfaction with how Team USA’s medical staff handled McAvoy’s injury. Reports suggest that the Bruins are “extremely unhappy” with the treatment their player received, believing that proper care was not administered promptly.
As McAvoy continues his recovery, the Bruins will monitor his condition closely, especially with upcoming NHL games on the horizon. The team’s next game is scheduled against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 4:00 PM PST.
Fans and teammates alike are hopeful for McAvoy’s swift recovery and return to the ice. In the meantime, Team USA will need to adjust their strategy to compensate for his absence in the crucial matchup against Canada.
