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Bruins Face Tough Decision as Charlie McAvoy Nears Return from Suspension
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- Bruins Face Tough Decision as Charlie McAvoy Nears Return from Suspension
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
BRIGHTON –The Boston Bruins are one game away from reinforcements arriving.
Charlie McAvoy was suspended after slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson during Game 6 of the first round. The Bruins were 90 seconds away from elimination when McAvoy slashed Benson, so the suspension was set for the first six games of the 2026-27 regular season. The Bruins are five games through, with the sixth coming Saturday, and then McAvoy is set to return to the lineup.
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"Yeah, it will. It will be [a tough decision]. I mean, it's a good problem because you have a guy like Charlie back, but I know how it feels, and there's a lot of D right now waiting for [that] opportunity," Marco Sturm said on Friday . "Even a guy like Aspi, it was not even fair to get him out because he played actually pretty good, but we have too many right now. That's going to be the challenge moving forward. It's almost like if we're all healthy, it's almost like you have to get used to it because some guys will be unhappy, but also, we need them to be ready for any time there's a call."
The Bruins are carrying eight defensemen, including the suspended McAvoy, on their NHL roster. This is not new, especially for Marco Sturm , who kept eight around through the back half of the 2025-26 season.
To end last season, Mason Lohrei watched the last three playoff games from the press box. Entering training camp, the 25-year-old defenseman was fighting for a full-time spot in the lineup, and will continue that fight as the Bruins' top defenseman returns to the lineup on Tuesday.
Through the first five games, Lohrei has done his part. He is tied for the lead among Bruins defensemen with three points (1-2–3), and he has a plus-one rating while averaging 19:48 of ice time.
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It's a noticeable jump in ice time for Lohrei, who averaged 16:54 through the 2025-26 season.
"We definitely noticed that he put in the work over the summer, so that was good. I thought he had a really strong start. I would say the first three games or so, he played a lot of minutes during that stretch, maybe even too much. But it was good for him," Sturm said. "These are the times we always talk about, you know, having Charlie out. So you got to spread it out, and Mason was one of them who had more minutes than usual. I think he can clean up the last few games, he can clean up a few breakouts, I think a few turnovers, but other than that, I thought he came in ready to go."
Lohrei has taken advantage of the increased minutes through the first five games, and while he feels confident in his game, he knows there is still more he can bring to the ice.
"Just trying to play my game and play with confidence every night," Lohrei said on Friday. "I've felt pretty good so far. There's always things to clean up and things to improve upon, but I'm working with Matt (McIlvane) every day just trying to get better. So I mean try and be even better tomorrow."
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Lohrei added that he's enjoyed working with McIlvane, who is, like Lohrei, an Ohio State alum. McIlvane was hired this summer after spending three years with the San Diego Gulls, and he has been working with the defensemen and penalty kill.
Mason Lohrei on how he has played through the first five games:
"Just trying to play my game and play with confidence every night. I've felt pretty good so far. There's always things to clean up and things to improve upon, but, I'm working with Matt (McIlvane) every day just… pic.twitter.com/c5SYzJDPux— Jack Studley (@jackstudley13) October 9, 2026
After starting the season with Jonathan Aspirot , Lohrei has been playing with Frederic Brunet , and both are also fighting for a full-time roster spot when McAvoy returns. Brunet spent the majority of training camp skating alongside McAvoy and has taken PP1 reps in McAvoy's absence. Aspirot spent the majority of the 2025-26 season to McAvoy's left. Marco Sturm knows all of that and is keeping all of his options open as the Bruins approach their California trip.
"There's a combination of a little bit of everything. Could be a lefty and a righty too. Could be partner-wise, could be anything," Sturm said. "So we just have to look at that all the time, not just make a decision to getting guys out. It should be a healthy competition all year long. We want our guys healthy. Somebody will be upset, but that's just the way it is. But there's different factors [to] who's going to play and all that stuff."
Mason Lohrei on playing with Frederic Brunet:
"Yeah, we've been like best friends since I left school, he left junior, and we lived together in Providence our first year pro. And we've just been tight ever since. So it's a lot of fun to play with him, and I hope we can keep… pic.twitter.com/65TavztwTO— Jack Studley (@jackstudley13) October 9, 2026
"We had 10 good NHL-caliber defensemen, and you never know what's going to happen with how the year goes, and we might need guys at certain points," Lohrei said. "But yeah, I think it's just great competition, and I'm glad to still be here and trying to make an impact every single night."
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Training camp may have passed the Bruins by, but as we saw this past week, Marco Sturm is " not dumb " and not afraid to trust his gut. Throughout training camp, he repeated that changes would continue well into the season, and that has been the case through five games.
The Bruins have one more game without McAvoy; then comes Sturm's tough decision. For Lohrei, the goal remains unchanged, regardless of who is available on the blue line.
"Yeah, I think so," he said when asked if he felt as if he put his best foot forward. "I mean, every day I just come up, show up to work, and just do my best to showcase my abilities. And obviously, I said before, it's a goal of mine to be in the lineup all 84 games, so nothing changes there."
Also Read: Report: Bruins Among 'Long List of Teams' Interested in Simon Edvinsson
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