NHL Offers McAvoy In-Person Hearing After Bruins Elimination

Boston, Massachusetts - The NHL Department of Player Safety offered Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy an in-person hearing Saturday after a late slashing incident in Boston's series-ending loss to the Buffalo Sabres, a procedural step the league uses when a suspension could reach six games or more.

The league said McAvoy is facing discipline for slashing Buffalo forward Zach Benson at 18:29 of the third period in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round. Boston lost 4-1 at TD Garden on Friday, ending the Bruins' season and sending any McAvoy suspension into the 2026-27 regular season, according to the league release.

What Happened

The NHL Department of Player Safety said McAvoy was offered an in-person hearing, with the date and time still to be determined as of Saturday. The league said the grounds being considered for supplemental discipline are slashing, while noting that Player Safety can adjust the infraction after review.

McAvoy received a major penalty for slashing and a game misconduct on the play, according to the NHL release. Benson received a minor penalty for tripping. The league did not announce a suspension Saturday, and its notice does not mean a six-game penalty has already been decided.

The in-person hearing offer matters because of the NHL's own discipline process. The Department of Player Safety FAQ says phone hearings are used when supplemental discipline would be five games or less or a fine above $5,000. If the infraction might require a suspension of six games or more, the player is offered an in-person hearing.

The FAQ also says an in-person hearing includes the player, his general manager, members of the NHLPA, the player's agent and senior members of Player Safety. The stated purpose is to let the player and his representatives address the play before the department makes a decision.

The Response

For Boston, the hearing comes at the end of a season that had already closed with a home-ice disappointment. The Bruins said their season ended Friday at TD Garden with the 4-1 loss to Buffalo in Game 6. Boston coach Marco Sturm said after the game that the Bruins came up short despite the effort level in the room.

The Bruins' own postgame reaction focused on elimination rather than the pending disciplinary process. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov called the loss a missed opportunity, and David Pastrnak said Buffalo's skill and speed were decisive in the series, according to the team release.

Buffalo's perspective was different. NHL.com said the Sabres won a playoff series for the first time since 2007 and will face either the Montreal Canadiens or Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. NHL.com also said Alex Tuch, Mattias Samuelsson, Benson and Josh Norris scored for Buffalo, while goaltender Alex Lyon made 25 saves.

The league's process now separates the discipline question from the playoff result. Because Boston has been eliminated, the NHL said any suspension McAvoy receives would be enforced next season. That gives the ruling roster consequences for the Bruins' first games of 2026-27 rather than the completed first-round series.

What People Are Saying

"Charlie McAvoy has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety. The date and time of the hearing is to be determined." - NHL Department of Player Safety, May 2 release

"If the infraction might require a suspension of six games or more, the offending Player is offered the opportunity to an in-person hearing. In this case, the Player remains suspended until the hearing takes place. If the Player waives his right to an in-person hearing, the hearing will be conducted by phone." - NHL Department of Player Safety FAQ

"It's tough, sucks. I mean, feels like a missed opportunity, obviously." - Nikita Zadorov, Boston Bruins defenseman, according to BostonBruins.com

"Unbelievable. Really special. Feels like it's been a long time coming. I know Rasmus Dahlin has been here longer than me, but for me it's been five long years, waiting for something special to happen. We're hoping it's just a start." - Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres forward, according to NHL.com

The Big Picture

The next step is procedural. The NHL has to set the hearing date and decide whether McAvoy will receive supplemental discipline, and the Bruins will not know until then whether he will miss regular-season games next fall.

The case also puts the league's playoff discipline system in plain view. Player Safety says injury, intent or recklessness, excessive and unnecessary force, prior disciplinary history, game situation and other relevant factors can be considered under Article 18.2 of the collective bargaining agreement. In this case, the timing is unusually direct: the incident came late in a playoff elimination loss, and any discipline would follow McAvoy into the next season.