More heartbreaking news for Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy took a positive step fowrard this week when he took part in Tuesday’s practice in a non-contact jersey. He has not played an NHL game since Feb. 8 against the Vegas Golden Knights, after suffering a serious AC joint injury and infection during the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament that forced him to be admitted to the hospital.

The blue liner shared how scary the experience had been when he explained to reporters what he had to undergo in a horrible time for him on the hospital bed.

“It wasn’t good. It was bad. It was when I got home that things sort of hit the fan on [that] Monday and that landed me in the hospital and things moved pretty fast after that. The infection was moving pretty fast after that and it got very serious, very quick. Another thing that I’m just trying to leave in the past, really.”

He added: “It was scary; it was scary on me, scary on my family, mostly. I just could not be more grateful for all the people at MGH and all the people that took such amazing care for me at a time when we really needed it.”

While he is now on the right track for a return to action, McAvoy was dealt more heartbreaking news in his return to a Bruins’ roster that has completely changed. He expressed how hard it has been to see his team trading away many of the teammates and friends he’s had throughout his entire career.

“There’s another aspect of this game that has nothing to do with on the ice, and that’s the friendships and the relationships,” McAvoy told reporters in Anaheim. “The reality of it is, I’ve been here a while now, and I see that a lot of my friends are no longer here. I understand that there’s a business part of it, I do. I get it, but it doesn’t make it easier to see a lot of your best buddies in other spots.”

McAvoy sat helplessly at home when general manager Don Sweeney Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche, Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild, and Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers. And especially his captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers.

“I really wished I was down with the group to get a pulse on the guys and to sort of go through it together,” said McAvoy. “I do believe that having people with you to lean on is always the best way to go through things.”

This is just sad to hear this from the blue liner.

There is still no timeline for when McAvoy will be healthy enough for game action. As for the Bruins, they are expected to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 NHL season.