The Boston Bruins‘ most important defenseman is set to return, as head coach Joe Sacco confirmed that Charlie McAvoy will re-enter the lineup Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, per Scott McLaughlin of WEEI Sports Radio.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (upper body) will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Boston has been without its No. 1 defenseman for seven games as McAvoy has been recovering from an upper-body injury.

Auston Matthews will serve as captain for the United States in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, and his team is the only one involved without a glaring injury question to answer. Canada, which will have Sidney Crosby as captain for yet another international tournament,

The Bruins will get a boost on their blue line on Thursday night, as defenseman Charlie McAvoy will rejoin the lineup when Boston hosts the Winnipeg Jets at TD Garden.

BOSTON – Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, January 30, that the team has added defenseman Charlie McAvoy to the active roster (Date of Injury: Jan. 11) and assigned forward Max Jones to Providence.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy will return to the lineup Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, interim head coach Joe Sacco announced, according to Boston Sports Journal's Joe Haggerty.McAvoy missed the previous seven games due to a nagging upper-body injury.

On top of welcoming his first child with his wife, Kiley, on Sunday, the Boston Bruins defenseman was named an alternate captain for Team USA for the upcoming NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Matthews, 27, led the NHL with 69 goals last season and won the Hart Trophy in 2021-22, when he scored 106 points in 73 games.

Also receiving the honour of being named to their respective leadership group is Maple Leafs star William Nylander, who will represent Team Sweden

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is back in a familiar spot, as Canada's captain for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament next month in Montreal and Boston.

Crosby is a two-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP, a two-time Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy winner as the league's top goal-scorer, a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner as top scorer, and a two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP.