Charlie McAvoy’s Injury Sparked Bruins’ Late-Season Collapse. The Boston Bruins’ disappointing 2024–25 campaign was influenced by a variety of issues, but one pivotal turning point was the loss of star defenseman Charlie McAvoy. His season-ending injury in February during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament proved to be a major blow to a team that was already struggling with injuries and inconsistency. While the Bruins were already on a shaky path, McAvoy’s absence highlighted their lack of depth and contributed to their downward spiral in the final two months of the season.
Entering the year with playoff aspirations, the Bruins ultimately ended up in the basement of the Eastern Conference standings. Their fall from grace—from Presidents’ Trophy winners just two years earlier to a lottery team—was the result of a combination of factors, including questionable roster construction, inconsistent goaltending, and key players underperforming. However, McAvoy’s injury stood out as one of the major blows that underscored the team’s shortcomings.
Before going down, McAvoy played in 50 games and continued to be one of the Bruins’ most reliable blue-liners. He posted seven goals and 16 assists and logged heavy minutes, as usual. Despite some struggles on the top power play unit, he remained a critical presence on the ice. There is speculation that reducing his special teams load and allowing other players like Mason Lohrei or Hampus Lindholm to take on those responsibilities might be beneficial moving forward.
McAvoy’s injury was especially frustrating for the Bruins organization because of how it was handled by Team USA’s medical staff during the international tournament. Ironically, McAvoy was one of the standout performers for Team USA, particularly in a strong showing against Canada during pool play.
As the team looks ahead to the 2025–26 season, getting McAvoy back to full health is one of the Bruins’ top priorities. While his place on the top defensive pairing is secure, who lines up alongside him is still in question—whether it’s Lindholm, Lohrei, Nikita Zadorov, or an external addition via free agency or trade. What’s clear is that a fully recovered McAvoy is essential to any hopes the Bruins have of returning to competitive form next season.
