Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety after swinging his stick at Buffalo Sabres’ forward Zach Benson late in Friday’s Game 6 elimination loss.
The in-person hearing, as opposed to a phone hearing, indicated that McAvoy could be suspended for six or more games at the start of the 2026-27 season.
Charlie McAvoy has been offered an in-person hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety for slashing Zach Benson, which means he could be suspended six or more games to start the 2026-27 season.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 2, 2026
McAvoy and Sabres winger Benson were racing for an icing late in Buffalo’s 4-1 win when Benson appeared to trip the defenceman, sending him hard into the end boards.
McAvoy quickly got up and took a baseball swing with his stick towards Benson as a scuffle between the two sides ensued.
The 28-year-old McAvoy recorded two assists over six games against the Sabres after scoring a career-high 61 points in the regular season, including 11 goals and 50 assists.
McAvoy has spent his entire 10-year NHL career in Boston after the Bruins selected him 14th overall in 2016. He won gold with the United States at the Olympics earlier this year.
