Bruins general manager Don Sweeney shared that it’s unlikely Hampus Lindholm will return to play this season, and there is no set timeline for Charlie McAvoy’s return.
Sweeney gave an update on the status of his two key defensemen during a media session on Sunday morning.
Lindholm has been out since November 13th after a shot hit him in the leg during a game against St. Louis, resulting in a fractured kneecap. While he had begun limited practices before the break, and there had been some optimism about his recovery, Lindholm hasn’t been fully involved since the team resumed workouts on Tuesday.
Sweeney tempered any expectations of a return, stating, “Hampus is unlikely to return for the rest of the season. It’s more beneficial for him to heal naturally rather than pushing through it.”
As for McAvoy, Sweeney didn’t offer any new updates on his return, stating, “There’s no timeline.”
McAvoy was injured during Team USA’s tournament-opening win against Finland. Despite the injury, he played through it against Canada, impressing with his physical play, including key hits on Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
However, McAvoy later developed an infection, leading to his hospitalization at Mass General, where he was diagnosed with a significant AC joint injury to his right shoulder. He was discharged in time to attend Thursday’s USA-Canada final with his arm in a sling.
Sweeney refrained from commenting on the care McAvoy received from Team USA’s doctors but did not believe further surgery would be necessary.
