Charlie McAvoy didn’t shy away from the moment when he spoke Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena. The Bruins defenseman addressed the slash that followed Zach Benson’s slew-foot in Game 6 of last spring’s first-round playoff series against Buffalo, and he made it clear why he reacted the way he did.
As the clock was winding down, McAvoy was racing back for an icing call when Benson sent him into the boards. McAvoy, angry after the play, answered with a vicious slash that led to a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety. The result was a match penalty in the game and, later, a six-game suspension to start the 2026-27 season.
“I thought that was extremely dangerous; you’re talking about broken legs, broken ankles, knees, everything,'' said McAvoy. "When you go into the boards at full speed, that, in my mind, is one of the most dangerous and vulnerable situations you can be in. Every single year there's case after case of guys leaving the ice on stretchers because of stuff like that.
“I felt like that was a deliberate play that could have resulted in a serious injury for me, and that was why I kind of snapped. If I didn’t have a broken hand, maybe I would have fought him, but I did.
I lost my wits to a certain degree, and I have regrets about that. It's something I have to learn from.”
McAvoy’s comments came after he was asked about what he told the NHL during the hearing and about Benson’s role in the sequence. The Bruins blueliner has already been vocal this year about discipline, including when he called out the league over the lack of punishment for the dirty hit on him by Sandis Vilmanis of the Florida Panthers.
The exchange with Benson also raised the question of whether the two would have fought if McAvoy’s hand hadn’t been broken. McAvoy said he might have, and the situation left him reflecting on the reaction that followed. Whether there’s a chance to settle it on the ice this season remains to be seen, with four matchups on the schedule.
In Other News...
Bruins Suddenly Have A Veteran Scoring Option Worth Watching
Barry Melrose, the longtime hockey analyst and former player and coach, has died at 70, a loss felt across the sport by anyone who watched him break down the game for years. Around the same time, a veteran scoring name suddenly entered the conversation in a way that could matter for teams looking to add offense, with the move creating a fresh bit of intrigue for clubs that still have room to chase help.
For Boston, the appeal is obvious. The Bruins could always use another experienced finisher if the fit and price make sense, and this is the kind of situation worth monitoring closely as the market takes shape. Reports suggest the player in question may have a preference for the East Coast, but nothing has been settled yet, which leaves the door open and the speculation very much alive. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Are Suddenly Tied To A Veteran Scorer With Camp Looming
With camp looming and the Bruins still sorting out their roster for the 2026-27 season, the team has found itself connected to a familiar veteran scorer. Elliotte Friedman has mentioned interest in bringing Chris Kreider back to Boston, and while nothing has been finalized, the possibility adds another layer to a forward group that still appears to be in flux as decisions draw closer.
A move like that would not just be about adding another name to the lineup, either. It could force the Bruins to rework how their bottom half of the forward group fits together, and one of the more notable ripple effects would be on players pushing for everyday roles. For a team trying to lock in its roster ahead of the season, the timing of this kind of speculation makes the next few weeks worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Linked To Veteran Scorer In Complicated Waiver Twist
The latest waiver wrinkle around Chris Kreider adds another layer to a Bruins offseason that already has more than a few moving parts. Anaheim placed the veteran forward on waivers for contract termination, and the situation has drawn attention around the league because Kreider still brings a proven scoring track record and would instantly become one of the more recognizable names available if the process keeps moving.
There is also a broader front-office backdrop worth watching, with Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman reporting that Detroit requested permission to interview general manager candidates but never followed through after getting the green light. That kind of uncertainty can ripple beyond one organization, especially with restricted free agents like Simon Edvinsson waiting on a new GM in Detroit, and it leaves the Bruins in the middle of a complicated market where a player of Kreiders stature could still wind up in an unexpected place. [Read more 🡒]