Like a child sent to his room to think, Charlie McAvoy has had enough time to reflect on his dangerous gesture towards Oliver Ekman-Larsson, which earned him a four-match ban.
The Boston Bruins defenseman still couldn’t help his teammates Thursday night against the New York Islanders as he served the final game of his penalty for a late and dangerous check on the Florida Panthers’ Ekman-Larsson.
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Last week, he reached out to the veteran to apologize. When the report of Adam Johnson’s accidental death was filed, McAvoy realized his mistake and wanted to ensure that his rival was in good health.
“We all play this very physical game. It was a very special week in the world of ice hockey. We all want to leave the ice healthy and that made me think a lot about Adam Johnson and all that. “The last thing we want to do is hurt anyone, and I think that’s unanimous opinion,” he said at Thursday’s press scrum.
McAvoy also declined to elaborate on his actions toward journalists, only admitting that he had made an unfortunate mistake.
“I have played almost 400 games since my first ban and I give away hits in every game. “I have become someone who can play physically and do it legally,” said the 25-year-old.
“I realized that the way I was acting warranted disciplinary action. “I made a mistake on the play,” the Bruins quarterback agreed.
An unsuccessful call
McAvoy attempted to appeal his suspension to reduce its duration, but Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the decision of the National League’s Department of Player Safety.
The player is aware that a change in his judgment would mean a departure from the great man’s work of George Parros, although he believed he had his chances.
“It is a suspension under Rule 48. My gesture begins with two parts [de suspension]. Then there are two factors: injury and history. There was no injury during the game, but I have a history. Two plus one equals three, not four. I feel like I couldn’t do much,” explained the man, whose first ban dates back to 2019.
“I thought I had a chance. I appreciate Mr. Bettman and his team taking the time. They seemed quite receptive to our arguments. I thought we made some good points. We compared my situation to other people’s, it made sense,” McAvoy concluded.
He will be eligible to play again this Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.