It was a tough end to the playoffs for Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. On top of his team losing in six games to Buffalo on Friday, the veteran was ejected from the game for a slash on Sabres winger Zach Benson. In response, the Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link) that McAvoy has been offered an in-person hearing. The date and time of the hearing have yet to be determined but with Boston done for the season, there is no need to hold it over the next day or two.
The in-person element is particularly important. While a phone hearing carries a maximum of a five-game suspension, an in-person hearing allows the league to suspend him for longer than that. If that were to happen, the NHLPA would then have an opportunity to appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman as well.
The incident occurred late in the third period of Friday’s game. Benson was set to receive a slew-foot tripping minor on McAvoy and while play continued, McAvoy chased down Benson and gave him a baseball-swing slash, receiving a minor, major, and a game misconduct on the play. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was among those to provide a video clip of the play.
McAvoy has two suspensions on his record. He received a one-game ban in 2019 for an illegal check to the head on then-Columbus winger Josh Anderson in the playoffs and a four-game suspension in 2023 for an illegal check to the head on then-Florida blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Any supplementary discipline received will be served at the start of next season.
It’s ironic how the article mentions Josh Anderson being a target by Charlie McAvoy for a incident in the past but yet, why didn’t that POS Anderson not get a suspension for the nasty headshot to Charle E D’Astous?… Department of Player Safety is an utter joke. It picks and chooses who to target. The fact, Gary Bettman thinks it does a “great job” is legitimately an embarrassment to the league. George Perros should be fired as he isn’t qualified at all for the position.
10 games minimum.
With all the times Ole Cheap Shot Charlie has gotten away with it before why should now be any different? Hopefully someday somebody will take care of him. Hockey players have long memories.