NHL Player Safety suspended Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy six regular-season games without pay on May 12, 2026, for a retaliatory slash on Buffalo's Zach Benson.

The play happened at 18:29 of the third period in Game 6 of the First Round on May 1 in Boston. McAvoy got a major and a game misconduct on the ice. An in-person hearing in New York left the league free to hand down six games or more.

Preseason games do not count toward the ban. Boston opens the 2026-27 regular season Tuesday, Sept. 29, against the Rangers at TD Garden (8 p.m. ET, ESPN / 98.5 The Sports Hub).

NHL: McAvoy suspended 6 games

Coach Marco Sturm has also said he wants to trim McAvoy's penalty-kill load when he returns. McAvoy led the Bruins at 2:48 of shorthanded ice time per game last season.