Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy gave an update Thursday on the status of injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy — kind of.
McAvoy hasn’t played since Oct. 18 due to a mysterious “upper-body” injury. He’ll miss his eighth straight game Thursday night when the Boston Bruins host the Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden.
While details of McAvoy’s status are vague, it appears the 20-year-old suffered the injury during a prior home game and attempted to play through the ailment. McAvoy told his coach after the Oct. 18 game that he wasn’t feeling right, and updates have been limited ever since.
“I wish I had great answers for you in that. If there’s any news I’d hope that we’d provide an update, but there’s really nothing changed,” Cassidy told reporters Thursday. “He’s not skating, he’s around, he’s doing off-ice workouts, and that’s kind of where it’s been at. So he hasn’t been shut down specifically, we didn’t say ‘OK, he’s out for three weeks off the ice, specifically.’
“It’s a matter of him feeling up to the next stage, which would be hopefully getting on the ice and skating because he is in the gym. So that’s a bit between the medical staff and him to make that determination. And then from there it’s getting into practice and then get in game shape. So listen, I hope he’s on the ice tomorrow, but I don’t have much for you there.”
McAvoy has averaged 20:56 of ice time in seven games this season, totaling one goal and five assists for six points. His absence certainly has been felt, as McAvoy has shown flashes of greatness in his brief NHL career and is a huge part of Boston’s game plan both defensively and offensively.
The Bruins placed McAvoy on injured reserve last week, retroactive to Oct. 18, suggesting his injury could be a long-term issue. For now, however, his status remains very much up in the air.
