The Boston Bruins will be forced to open the 2026-27 regular season without their top defenseman, Charlie McAvoy, after the NHL Department of Player Safety handed down a six-game suspension for a slashing incident. The ruling, announced following an in-person hearing in New York City, marks a significant blow to the team's defensive core as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.

The suspension stems from a heated moment in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs, where McAvoy was taken down by Sabres forward Zach Benson in a play he later described as a "slew foot." With just 1:31 remaining in what turned out to be the Bruins' final game of the season, McAvoy got back to his feet and swung his stick at Benson, connecting across the arm and the Sabres logo on his chest. The league's ruling was clear: "This is an intentional and forceful strike delivered to an opponent's body specifically for the purpose of retribution and message sending," adding that the play occurred "outside of actual game play" with the outcome of both the game and the series already decided.

For McAvoy, this is familiar territory. The veteran blueliner now faces his third career suspension, following a one-game ban in the 2019 playoffs for an illegal check to the head of then-Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson, and a four-game suspension in 2023 for a similar hit on then-Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. After Game 6, McAvoy voiced his disapproval of Benson's trip but remained tight-lipped on breakup day, stating he would wait to speak "out of respect for the process" until meeting with the league.

Benson, meanwhile, faced no further discipline beyond a two-minute tripping minor assessed during the game. As the Bruins regroup without their anchor on the blue line for the first six games of the season, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team adapts—and whether McAvoy can channel this setback into a strong return to the ice.