The offseason just got a little more complicated for the Boston Bruins. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been summoned for an in-person hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety (DoPS), the league confirmed Saturday afternoon. This development comes after a heated moment in the Bruins' final game of the season—a 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6 that ended their playoff run.
The incident unfolded with just 1:31 left on the clock. As McAvoy raced for the puck along the boards, Sabres forward Zach Benson executed a slewfoot, sending the defenseman crashing hard into the dasher. The dangerous trip didn't sit well with McAvoy, who scrambled to his feet and immediately retaliated with a baseball-style swing of his stick, catching Benson squarely across the Sabres' logo on his sweater. The moment sparked immediate buzz across the hockey world, with video clips circulating widely on social media.
On the ice, McAvoy was assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing and a game misconduct, which kept him from joining the traditional handshake line after the final horn. Speaking to reporters postgame, McAvoy didn't mince words about the slewfoot but seemed resigned to the timing of any potential discipline. "I won't play another game until September," he said. "Can't imagine it really matters much."
This isn't McAvoy's first dance with the DoPS. The 28-year-old has been suspended twice before: a one-game ban in 2019 for an illegal check to the head of then-Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson during the playoffs, and a four-game suspension in 2023 for a similar hit on Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Given his history and the nature of the swing, this in-person hearing signals the league is taking the matter seriously. In-person hearings are typically reserved for more severe incidents, allowing the DoPS to hand down a suspension of more than five games if warranted.
Because the Bruins' season is over, any suspension would carry over to the start of the 2026-27 regular season—a potential blow to Boston's blue line as they look to regroup. Meanwhile, the league has not announced any supplementary discipline for Benson, who received only a two-minute minor penalty for tripping on the play.
As fans, we know the emotions run high when the stakes are this intense. Whether you're gearing up for next season or reflecting on this one, make sure your game-day gear is ready for anything—just like the players on the ice.