The Bruins' No. 1 defenseman had an arthroscopic stabilization procedure. The estimated recovery time is six months.
He is among a host of Bruins who have had surgery since their season ended. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk had a right shoulder open stabilization procedure Friday and is expected to need five months to recover. And defenseman Mike Reilly had a right ankle tendon repair and removal of bone fragments Friday with an expected recovery time of three months.
The Bruins will also be without one of their best forwards to start the season. Brad Marchand had a hip arthroscopy and labral repair on both hips May 27, with an approximate recovery time of six months.
McAvoy and Marchand would be on target to return in December if those timelines hold. But the Bruins could be faced with an even bigger absence, with center Patrice Bergeron yet to decide whether he will return for his 19th NHL season. The Boston captain is an unrestricted free agent and is pondering his future.
It could be the harbinger of a difficult season for a team that has had Stanley Cup aspirations most seasons for the past decade.
The Bruins lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round this season, three years after losing to the St. Louis Blues in seven games in the Stanley Cup Final. Boston (51-26-5) finished fourth in the Atlantic Division and was the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
McAvoy had 56 points (10 goals, 46 assists) in 78 games this season, setting NHL career highs in each category, and was a contender for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the defenseman voted the best in the NHL, the past two seasons. He had five assists in six playoff games and missed Game 4 against the Hurricanes because of COVID-19.
Grzelcyk struggled all season with injuries and ended up scratched twice during the playoffs but is usually a key component in the Bruins defenseman group. He had 24 points (four goals, 20 assists) in 73 regular-season games and no points in five playoff games.
Reilly had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 70 regular-season games and no points in five playoff games.
