Imagine you’re a fan of the Edmonton Oilers, who took Game 7 for the Stanley Cup down the final seconds last year, and during a midseason, international competition, Connor McDavid sustains a serious injury, compromising his ability to help the Oilers get over the top for the first time in 35 years.
The Boston Bruins are obviously not having that kind of season, but the injury sustained by Charlie McAvoy buttresses widespread concerns that teams and their season-ticket holders have with a midseason tournament such as the 4 Nations Face-Off.
McAvoy, who was crosschecked head-first into the goalpost by Joel Armia late in the United States’ 6-1 romp over Finland last Thursday in Montreal, returned to action Saturday vs. Canada but, as reported by The Boston Globe, was admitted by Mass. General Hospital on Monday. It could be the injury is not related to Armia’s cheap shot, but if so, how much worse is that? (Cue up the oldest bad blood in hockey, Bruins-Canadiens.)
My season-ticket-holder pals and other fans had long expressed concern over this type of situation, and while the tournament has provided some emotionally fueled, best-on-best hockey, one wonders what each team’s board of governors is going to say about it in the future should such an injury impact a team’s chance of competing for the Stanley Cup. There have been other injuries in the tournament.
We at least know that McAvoy will not play in Thursday’s championship game vs. Canada, and it’s been reported that Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks has recovered from the injury that had held him out of last week’s tournament games and will now join Team USA. That’s an amazing piece of fortune for the United States, as Hughes is arguably the best all-around defenseman in the world.
Here is today’s official word from the Bruins on McAvoy:
BRUINS MEDICAL UPDATE ON CHARLIE MCAVOY
The Boston Bruins have issued the following update on defenseman Charlie McAvoy:
Charlie was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday to undergo testing related to an upper-body injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off and is currently being evaluated by Boston Bruins Head Team Physician Dr. Peter Asnis. He will not play for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game on Thursday at TD Garden. The Boston Bruins will provide further updates on his condition and status as soon as they become available.
To that end, the Bruins made moves as they begin preparations for the hockey that could decide their 2024-25 season starting Saturday night vs. Anaheim at TD Garden:
BRUINS ANNOUNCE ROSTER TRANSACTIONS
BOSTON – Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, February 18, the following roster transactions:
The team has recalled defenseman Michael Callahan and forward Matt Poitras from Providence and recalled forward Riley Tufte from Providence on an emergency basis. The team also announced that goaltender Michael DiPietro has joined the team as a practice player during the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Callahan, 25, has appeared in 36 games with the Providence Bruins this season, recording one goal and five assists for six points. Callahan made his NHL debut with Boston on Jan. 14 vs. Tampa Bay and has appeared in eight NHL games with the club this season. The 6-foot-2,197-pound defenseman has skated in 176 career AHL games, all with Providence, totaling seven goals and 26 assists for 33 points. The Franklin, Massachusetts native was originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Poitras, 20, has appeared in 26 games with Boston this season, recording one goal and 10 assists for 11 points. The 5-foot-11, 189-pound forward has also skated in 24 games with Providence this season, tallying nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points. Poitras has played in 59 career NHL games, all with Boston, totaling six goals and 20 assists for 26 points. The Whitby, Ontario native was originally selected by Boston in the second round (54th overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Tufte, 26, has appeared in three games with Boston this season. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward has also played in 40 games with the Providence Bruins this season, recording 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points. Tufte has skated in 313 career AHL games with Providence, Colorado and Texas, totaling 73 goals and 79 assists for 152 points. The Coon Rapids, Minnesota native was originally selected by Dallas in the first round (25th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
DiPietro, 25, has appeared in 28 games with Providence this season, recording an overall record of 17-7-4 with a 2.00 goals against average, .928 save percentage and four shutouts. The 6-foot, 211-pound goaltender has played in 133 career AHL games with Providence, Abbotsford and Utica, compiling an overall record of 75-41-12 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. The Windsor, Ontario native was originally selected by Vancouver in the third round (64th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
#02/18/25#
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 