The Boston Bruins’ season came to a close last Friday night with a 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6—a tough ending for a team that defied expectations all year long.

After being pegged by many as a lottery-bound squad and projected to finish near the bottom of the league, the Bruins surprised everyone by racking up 100 points in the regular season. It was a remarkable turnaround, but the postseason proved unforgiving. Boston failed to win a single home playoff game (0-3 at TD Garden), and their Cinderella story ended earlier than hoped.

Now, the focus shifts to star defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who finds himself in hot water with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. During the third period of Game 6, McAvoy delivered an overhead two-handed slash to Sabres forward Zach Benson—a play that immediately drew attention and controversy. The league announced Saturday that McAvoy has been offered an in-person hearing, with the date now set for Monday, May 11, at the NHL’s New York City office.

This is a significant development. In-person hearings are reserved for incidents where a suspension of six or more games is possible, meaning McAvoy could be facing a substantial absence. With the NHL expanding to an 84-game regular season next year, the suspension’s length—and the corresponding loss of pay—could carry even more weight.

McAvoy had a strong 2025-26 campaign, appearing in 69 games and posting 11 goals, 50 assists, and 61 points, along with 79 hits and 129 blocks. In the postseason, he added two assists but finished with a minus-6 rating while playing through a broken hand he sustained in Game 2. Now, his availability for next season hangs in the balance as the league prepares to make its ruling.