Charlie McAvoy suspended, will miss start

Boston’s biggest offseason problem just became an October problem too. Charlie McAvoy, the Bruins’ top defenseman, was suspended six regular-season games after slashing Buffalo’s Zach Benson in the first round. Because the Bruins were already eliminated, there were no playoff games left to absorb any of the punishment. So the suspension now carries into the start of next season. ### What actually happened? The play came late in Game 6 of Boston’s series against Buffalo on May 1. McAvoy took a five-minute major for slashing and a game misconduct after bringing his stick down on Benson, and the Bruins lost that game and the series that same night. That timing matters — once Boston’s season ended, any suspension longer than the remaining playoff schedule had nowhere to go except next year. (nhl.com) ### Why was the penalty so heavy? The key detail is that the NHL gave McAvoy an in-person hearing. That matters because an in-person hearing opens the door to a suspension of six games or more, which is the league’s way of signaling it sees the incident as more serious than a routine fine or short ban. The Department of Player Safety announced the hearing on May 4, then confirmed the six-game suspension on May 12. (nhl.com) ### Why does it carry into next season? NHL suspensions are served in games the player’s team actually plays after the ruling. Boston had none left. The Bruins were out, so McAvoy could not serve any part of the suspension in the postseason. Basically, the punishment starts with Game 1 of the 2026-27 regular season and runs through Boston’s first six games. (nhl.com) ### Why is McAvoy such a big loss? McAvoy is not just another defenseman on the roster. He is Boston’s top all-situations blue liner — the player the Bruins lean on for heavy minutes, tough matchups, and puck movement. When he is out, the whole defense pair structure changes. Penalty kill usage changes too, and the Bruins lose the skater they usually trust most against top lines. (nhl.com) That is why a six-game absence lands bigger than the number alone suggests. This is an inference from his role on the team, but it is a pretty straightforward one. ### What does this say about the series? It says the ending got ugly. Buffalo closed out Boston in Game 6, and McAvoy’s slash became the lasting image of the Bruins’ elimination. Instead of the offseason starting with questions about lineup tweaks or free agency, Boston now also has a discipline issue hanging over training camp and opening night. For Buffalo, the moment reinforced that the Sabres advanced while Boston unraveled. (boston.com) ### Is this unusual? Not really — but it is still notable. NHL suspensions from the playoffs can roll into the next regular season when a team is eliminated before the full ban is served. What makes this one stand out is the player involved. A season-opening suspension for a franchise defenseman hits differently than one for a depth player, because it immediately affects lineup planning. (nhl.com) ### What does Boston do now? The Bruins have months before opening night, but the catch is that roster planning starts long before October. Coaches and management now know they will be without McAvoy for the first six games, so any early-season pairings and special-teams plans have to account for that. If Boston was already thinking about blue-line depth this summer, this probably sharpens the urgency. (nhl.com) ### Bottom line This is not just leftover playoff discipline. It is a real early-season blow for Boston. McAvoy’s slash on Benson ended one season badly — and now it will shape the start of the next one too. (nhl.com) (boston.com)