Bruins Defenseman Suspended for Start of 2026-27 Regular Season

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Boston Bruins will start the 2026-27 regular season without their top defenseman.

The NHL Department of Player Safety (DoPS) handed Charlie McAvoy a six-game suspension for slashing.

In Game 6 of Round 1, McAvoy was taken down by Sabres forward Zach Benson and crashed into the boards. McAvoy, with 1:31 remaining in the Bruins’ season, got back on his feet and swung his stick Benson. He connected across the arm and Sabres logo on Benson’s chest.

“This is slashing. All parties agree that this is an intentional and forceful strike delivered to an opponent’s body specifically for the purpose of retribution and message sending. In addition, all parties agree that this play occurs outside of actual game play, and in a situation where the outcome of both the game and the series have been decided.”

McAvoy had an in-person hearing at the NHL offices in New York City on Monday.

His suspension will keep him out of the first six games of the Bruins’ upcoming season.

After Game 6, McAvoy said he disapproved of the Benson slew foot. On breakup day, he said he would not have any more comments until he met with the league, “out of respect for the process.”

This is the third suspension of McAvoy’s career. In the 2019 playoffs, he was suspended for one game for an illegal check to the head on then-Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson.

In 2023, he missed four games after checking then-Panthers defenseman illegally in the head.