Bruins' Charlie McAvoy facing potential punishment for stick-swinging incident

Steve Conroy, Boston Herald on May 2, 2026

Published in Hockey

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BOSTON — It looks like Charlie McAvoy will be starting the 2026-27 season a little later than the rest of the Bruins.

McAvoy was offered an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, at a time and date to be determined. The in-person offering means the league can suspend him for six games or more for his stick-swinging incident late in Friday’s Game 6.

With 1:31 remaining and the game out of hand, the Sabres’ Zach Benson pulled a cheap move, slew-footing Charlie McAvoy just before the board. McAvoy, luckily was not injured. But he sure was incensed. He got up and went after Benson, landing a two-hander on the talented Sabres pest, for which McAvoy got a five-minute major and game misconduct.

McAvoy didn’t really address the incident. He was asked after the game if he expected to hear from the league on it.

“I won’t play another game till September so I can’t imagine it really matters much,” McAvoy said.

That McAvoy was offered a hearing is not a surprise. However, if Benson goes unpunished — and there has been no indication yet that he will be — it will be another head scratcher from the Department of Player Safety.