All evidence suggests that the Boston Bruins will be without Charlie McAvoy to begin the 2026-27 NHL season. The Department of Player Safety has scheduled McAvoy for an in-person hearing after the blueliner committed a nasty slash on Buffalo Sabres’ Zach Benson in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The fact that McAvoy’s meeting with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety will be held in person is not coincidental. In fact, it alters everything. “If the Department of Player Safety determines that any Supplemental Discipline from an infraction will be less than five games, the hearing will be held by phone,” according to NHL. com.
Given the ferocity of McAvoy’s slash on Benson in the final minutes of Game 6 of the first round, as well as the fact that McAvoy will have to appear at the league’s office in New York City, it is reasonable to predict that McAvoy will be suspended for more than five games. The ban will take effect at the start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season.
Official details of McAvoy’s hearing.
On May 2, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety said that it had offered McAvoy an in-person meeting. The league has validated the specifics of that meeting two days later.
“Charlie McAvoy of Boston will have an in-person hearing on Monday, May 11th at the NHL’s office in New York City for slashing Zach Benson of Buffalo,” the announcement said, via @NHLPlayerSafety on X.
Before making any summer plans, McAvoy will pay an offseason trip to the Big Apple. As he arrives at the NHL offices in Hudson Yards, just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden, the Spoked B’s top blueliner is anticipated to depart with a suspension. The exact length is unknown, however it will be at least six games.
McAvoy is facing his third suspension
“Just out of respect for the procedure, I’m probably not going to comment on it until I have the opportunity to speak with them,” McAvoy said when asked about the in-person hearing during his end-of-season availability, according to WEEI Sports.
McAvoy is currently on pace to receive his third suspension of his NHL career. His most recent happened during the 2023-24 season, when he was suspended without pay for four games for an unlawful hit to the head of Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
The star defenseman was also suspended one game for an unwarranted strike to the head of Josh Anderson of the Columbus Blue Jackets. McAvoy is facing a much longer and more costly suspension this time around.
