Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended for four games following an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The suspension was announced by the department of player safety on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know about the incident:
– The illegal check occurred during Monday’s game at 9:24 of the third period. McAvoy received a match penalty and was ejected from the game.
– As a result of the suspension, McAvoy will forfeit $197,916.68 under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
– McAvoy will be eligible to return to play on November 11th against the Montreal Canadiens. However, he will miss Boston’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
Where does the suspension leave the Bruins?
The Bruins were already playing with one defenseman short in Monday’s game against the Panthers, as Matt Grzelcyk, McAvoy’s partner, left in the first period due to an upper-body injury. Grzelcyk is expected to be out for several weeks, further depleting the Bruins’ defensive depth.
In addition, Derek Forbort has been playing at less than 100 percent due to a lower-body injury. Forbort missed one game against the Anaheim Ducks on October 22nd. With McAvoy’s suspension, the Bruins will need to make transactions to recall help from their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.
However, bringing up additional defensemen would require the Bruins to clear additional cap space, as they are currently tight against the salary cap. This means that players like Patrick Brown may have to be assigned to Providence to make room for the call-ups.
McAvoy’s absence will be significant for the Bruins, as he is considered their best defenseman. He excels in all three zones and plays a key role on the team’s top power play unit.
Who could be recalled?
One potential option for the Bruins is Mason Lohrei, a 22-year-old rookie who could receive his first NHL recall. Lohrei, a left-shot defenseman, could take Grzelcyk’s shifts and provide some much-needed depth on the blue line. He was among the final cuts in training camp but has shown promise in the AHL.
As for McAvoy’s spot, Ian Mitchell is the most likely right-shot defenseman to be promoted. Mitchell, who was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks, beat out Jakub Zboril for the No. 7 defenseman spot in training camp. He appeared in two games with the Bruins before being sent down to Providence.
While Lohrei and Mitchell may not be able to fully replicate the contributions of Grzelcyk and McAvoy, other defensemen like Hampus Lindholm and Brandon Carlo will need to step up and take on more responsibility in their absence.
Backstory
This is only the second suspension of McAvoy’s career. He was previously suspended for one game during the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs for a hit to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets’ forward Josh Anderson.
In the current season, McAvoy has been a key contributor for the Bruins, recording two goals and six assists in nine games. The Bruins have been off to a strong start, with a record of 8-0-1.
In conclusion, Charlie McAvoy’s suspension leaves the Boston Bruins in a challenging position, as they are already dealing with injuries to key defensemen. The team will need to make roster moves to bring up reinforcements from the AHL and rely on other players to step up in McAvoy’s absence. However, McAvoy’s return on November 11th will be eagerly awaited, as he is an integral part of the Bruins’ defensive core.