Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy is appealing 4-game suspension

Boston Bruins defenseman, Charlie McAvoy, seeks to appeal his four-game suspension relating to an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers defenseman, Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been assigned to oversee the appeal process, marking the final step in this proceeding. Since the suspension falls short of six games and did not involve an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety, McAvoy is not eligible to escalate the matter to a neutral arbitrator.

Bettman possesses the authority to maintain, decrease, or escalate the current suspension.

During Monday’s overtime win against Florida, McAvoy received a match penalty at 9 minutes and 24 seconds into the third period after making direct contact with Ekman-Larsson’s head through an unlawful check.

A day later, the NHL announced a four-game suspension for McAvoy, arguing that the hit could have been avoided. The league stated in a video explanation of the punishment, “McAvoy deliberately approaches from an angle that bypasses Ekman-Larsson’s core and specifically targets his head.”

Typically, the Department of Player Safety imposes a minimum of two games for an illegal head check, mirroring its recent decision in the case of Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton. The added games for McAvoy were likely due to the timing of the hit and his prior suspension history, which involved a one-game ban during the 2019 playoffs for an illegal check to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson.

McAvoy already served his first game suspension in the Bruins’ victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night. The team will face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

This marks the second instance this season in which the NHLPA has appealed a suspension to Bettman. Previously, Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson appealed a four-game ban for a head hit on Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine, seeking eligibility to participate in Calgary’s Heritage Classic outdoor game against the Edmonton Oilers, but Bettman upheld the suspension.