Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to miss a month after hand surgery
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
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