Massive suspension rightfully looming for Bruins star Charlie McAvoy

The Department of Player Safety officially announced an in-person hearing for the frustrated Bruins defenseman on Thursday afternoon.

This disciplinary action stems directly from a ruthless and calculated slash on Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson near the end of the game.

An in-person hearing is the absolute ultimate red flag for any player in this league right now.

It gives the disciplinary committee the full green light to drop the hammer and hand down a suspension of six games or more.

That wild swing was an intense display of raw frustration that went way over the edge and crossed into highly dangerous territory.

The NHL has a golden opportunity right here to send a loud, firm message to the rest of the league.

This needs to be a massive suspension because the play was entirely unnecessary and completely separated from the actual hockey game.

The league office needs to prove they are serious about protecting young skill players from unprovoked physical retaliation.

With the Bruins' season officially in the rearview mirror, any discipline handed down will directly impact the start of their next campaign. Missing opening night and the subsequent games is a brutal way for any team to kick off a fresh regular season schedule.

McAvoy is the unquestioned engine of that defensive unit in Boston and carries the mail every single night he dresses.

Losing his heavy minutes creates a gaping hole on the right side of their blue line when the puck drops next fall. The coaching staff relies heavily on his crisp passing and physical presence to set the tone early in the year.

You simply cannot take a wild, reckless swing at an opponent like that without facing a serious reckoning from the league office.

Boston must now prepare to survive a tough stretch right out of the gate next year without their absolute best player leading the charge.

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