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Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to miss a month after hand surgery

Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon has undergone surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand and will be re-evaluated in a month.

CALGARY, AB - FEBRUARY 21: Jeremy Lauzon #79 of the Boston Bruins in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on February 21, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

CALGARY, AB – FEBRUARY 21: Jeremy Lauzon #79 of the Boston Bruins in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on February 21, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

Derek Leung/Getty Images

The Bruins announced on Wednesday that 23-year-old defenseman Jeremy Lauzon has undergone surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand. The team will re-evaluate Lauzon in approx. four weeks.

Lauzon has been a key piece of the Bruins' defensive makeover after the departures of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug. He played in all 16 games prior to injuring his hand during the Bruins' win over the Flyers at Lake Tahoe. Only Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo have averaged more ice time among the Bruins' regulars on the blue line.

The 23-year-old joins fellow left-shot defenseman Matt Grzelcyk on the shelf. That leaves Jakub Zboril as the only healthy left-shot defenseman who started the season in the Boston lineup. John Moore should continue to see regular action. Grzelcyk is "close" to returning, according to head coach Bruce Cassidy.

Lauzon's injury opens the door for 2017 first-round pick Urho Vaakanainen to play regularly for the Bruins over the next month or longer. Cassidy praised the young defenseman ahead of the Bruins' game at Lake Tahoe.

PHOTOS: Bruins Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.

Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.