Boston Bruins’ defenseman Charlie McAvoy openly admits that he committed a grave error when delivering an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers’ blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson on October 30th. However, McAvoy believes that the subsequent four-game suspension he received was inconsistent with the gravity of his mistake. The incident occurred during an overtime win against the Panthers when McAvoy was penalized with a match penalty around 10 minutes into the third period for his check, causing significant impact to Ekman-Larsson’s head. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended McAvoy the following day, citing avoidable contact. McAvoy, finally breaking his silence on the issue, addressed the suspension and his failed appeal, expressing his thoughts on both the play itself and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s decision not to reduce the ban from four to three games.
The Explanation Behind the Suspension
According to McAvoy, the head of NHL player safety, George Parros, explained to him that a rule 48 suspension, pertaining to an illegal check to the head, typically starts at two games. Based on this framework, the penalty can be increased by two factors: injury and history. As there was no injury resulting from the play and McAvoy had a previous history of suspension, he believed that his ban should have been reduced to three games rather than the initial four. Despite his confidence in his chances of appealing the ruling, Bettman ultimately disagreed with McAvoy’s assessment and upheld Parros’ decision. In his ruling statement, Bettman emphasized that McAvoy could have easily avoided making the illegal hit, but chose not to.
One of McAvoy’s arguments during the appeal process included showcasing cases where similar illegal checks were made, causing injuries, but resulted in lesser punishments. He felt that these comparisons highlighted the inconsistency in the league’s decision-making. However, McAvoy sensed that negative optics influenced the preservation of the department’s ruling. He acknowledged that it would be challenging for the NHL to overturn Player Safety’s decision, as it would require them to admit their mistake. It seemed to him that the league was attempting to establish a new standard, making it more difficult for future appeals to be successful.
The Second Appeal and Moving Forward
Interestingly, this was not the first time an appeal had been taken to Bettman this season. Previously, Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson attempted to reduce his four-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets’ forward Patrik Laine. Ultimately, his appeal was also unsuccessful. With no further options remaining, McAvoy is now solely focused on making a comeback on the ice. As Boston’s top defenseman, he recognized the importance of mending his relationship with Ekman-Larsson and asserted his relief that the latter was not injured from the collision.
The suspension has undeniably given McAvoy a lot to contemplate regarding changing his style of play to avoid future penalties and missed game time. However, he also acknowledges that his physical and clean style of play has been instrumental in his success thus far. Despite his mistake, McAvoy sought forgiveness and made amends with Ekman-Larsson. It is evident that he is determined to learn from this experience and strive to strike a better balance in his gameplay.
The controversy surrounding Charlie McAvoy’s suspension has shed light on the inconsistencies within the NHL’s decision-making process. McAvoy believed that the penalty length did not align with the magnitude of his mistake, especially when comparing it to similar cases. While disappointed with the failed appeal, McAvoy is now focused on becoming a better player and avoiding similar incidents in the future. As one of Boston’s key defensemen, it is crucial for McAvoy to reflect on this experience and refine his gameplay to continue excelling in his role.
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