The Boston Bruins are well-represented on the international stage as the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, with several players donning their national colors in Milan. But while the moment is a dream realized for many, it comes with a bittersweet twist-Pavel Zacha will miss the tournament due to an upper-body injury suffered on January 28 during a win over the Flyers at TD Garden. It’s a tough break for Zacha, who was poised to play a key role for Team Czechia.
Still, the Bruins will have a strong presence in the Games, and two of their stars are heading overseas with a little extra hardware on their sweaters.
David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy Named Assistant Captains
For David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, the Olympic experience just got even more meaningful. Both were named assistant captains for their respective national teams-Pastrnak for Czechia and McAvoy for Team USA-an honor that speaks volumes about their leadership, both on and off the ice.
Pastrnak joins a Czech leadership group led by veteran Roman Červenka, with Radko Gudas also serving as an assistant. It’s a balanced mix of experience and firepower, and Pastrnak’s role as a leader will be critical for a Czech squad looking to make a deep run.
Over on Team USA, McAvoy will wear the "A" alongside Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, while Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews will captain the team. It’s a leadership group built on skill, grit, and big-game experience. For McAvoy, the appointment is especially meaningful considering the road he’s taken to get here.
McAvoy’s Road Back to the Olympics
This time last year, McAvoy was sidelined by an injury early in the 4 Nations Faceoff tournament-a setback that not only ended his international campaign but also derailed the remainder of his NHL season. The Bruins struggled in his absence, and the injury triggered a chain reaction that led to a major sell-off at the trade deadline by GM Don Sweeney.
Fast forward to now, and McAvoy is back, healthy, and ready to anchor Team USA’s blue line. But it nearly didn’t happen.
Just last Wednesday night, McAvoy took a dangerous elbow from Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis. He stayed down for a while and left the game in the first period, raising serious concerns about his Olympic availability.
But in a testament to his toughness-and perhaps a little bit of good fortune-McAvoy returned in the second period and finished the game.
He later posted about the incident on social media, clearly frustrated that no disciplinary action was taken by NHL Player Safety. While the league’s decision raised some eyebrows, McAvoy's focus now shifts to Milan, where he’ll play a pivotal role for a U.S. team with serious medal aspirations.
Looking Ahead
For the Bruins, the Olympics are a chance to showcase their talent on the world stage, even as they deal with the sting of losing Zacha. For Pastrnak and McAvoy, it’s an opportunity to lead their nations and add another chapter to their already impressive careers.
The stage is set. The lights are bright. And two of Boston’s best are ready to represent their countries with pride-and a letter on their chest.