Charlie McAvoy Sends Message Amid Return to Bruins

McAvoy provided his first full update on Monday after shedding his non-contact jersey at practice.

“Getting it back,” McAvoy said. “One day at a time, but every day I feel better, so keep doing that. We’re getting the chance to do more, skate more, skate longer, and work out off the ice. All those things.”

McAvoy described the initial aftermath of the injury as unusually difficult. The blueliner said he “knew right away I was in trouble” and later learned he had sustained a “linear fracture,” along with losing several bottom teeth.

The star defenseman revealed he was restricted to liquid foods for weeks, losing 20 pounds before gradually regaining half that weight and strength.

“It’s been one of the weirdest injuries I’ve ever had,” McAvoy said. “The feeling of having so much trauma in your mouth. It’s a wild feeling.”

McAvoy and Pastrnak will join the Bruins on their way to St. Louis, Winnipeg, and Minnesota, and the blueliner is hopeful the stretch includes his first game action since the injury.

“We’ll see,” McAvoy said. “Going on the trip with the expectation and hoping that some point along the way on the trip I’ll be able to get back in.”

Before the injury, McAvoy recorded 14 points, all assists, in 19 games and led Boston in ice time at 23:46 per night. The Bruins will also have Pastrnak traveling with the team as he works toward a return from his own absence.

Boston will face the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, with puck drop set for 8 p.m. ET.