Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed to NESN's Naoko Funayama on Tuesday that Bruins center Patrice Bergeron suffered a broken thumb in Monday's loss to the Rangers in New York. But the Bruins may not be the only team left suffering by Bergeron's injury.
The 24-year-old Bergeron, who leads the Black and Gold with 31 points, reportedly has three small breaks in the tip of his thumb. Despite not requiring surgery, Bergeron will have his thumb immobilized and is rumored to be out anywhere from two to six weeks, according to ESPNBoston.com. Still, the two-week prognosis remains a distinct possibility, said team officials.
Bergeron, who was named to Team Canada just last week, could conceivably be replaced on the Olympic roster, according to TSN.com.
The report lists Philadelphia's Jeff Carter as a possible substitute, but Team Canada's executive director Steve Yzerman, who was reportedly happy with the limited nature of Bergeron's injury, has told TSN's Darren Dreger that it was far too early to suggest Carter would be a replacement.
The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games are slated to begin in the third week of February.
