NHL Drops Heavy Discipline on McAvoy After Sabres Slash

Charlie McAvoy is on the wrong end of league discipline after a slash on a Sabres forward, and the punishment lands with real bite. The NHL rarely treats these situations like a little wrist-slap memo when it believes a line was crossed, and this one clearly drew attention. For Boston, that means both a roster hit and another reminder that playoff-style edge can come with a very real price tag. Around the league, teams are watching how the department of player safety draws the line.