Sharks' Sherwood Calls Bruins' McAvoy Hit 'Stupid', Wants NHL to Address Head Shots

Sherwood, known for his physical play, says McAvoy's late hit was 'dirty and unnecessary' and hopes the league takes action.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:51pm

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San Jose Sharks forward Kiefer Sherwood criticized Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy for a late hit to Sherwood's head in the final seconds of their game, calling it 'dirty and unnecessary and just stupid on his part.' Sherwood, who set an NHL record for hits last season, said there's a difference between physical play and hits aimed at injuring players. He hopes the NHL can do a better job of addressing head shots to protect player safety.

Why it matters

Head shots and dangerous hits have been an ongoing issue in the NHL, with concerns about player safety and long-term health effects. Sherwood's criticism of the McAvoy hit, coming from a player known for his physical style, highlights the need for the league to more consistently penalize and deter these types of plays.

The details

With 10 seconds left in the Sharks' 4-2 win over the Bruins, McAvoy delivered a high hit to Sherwood's head, setting off a small brawl. Sherwood was animated in his criticism of the hit after the game, saying McAvoy 'knows where he's heading' and that the contact was 'straight to my head, which is bullshit.' Sherwood, who set an NHL record with 384 hits last season, said there's a difference between physical play and 'hitting to hurt,' and he believes the league needs to better address head shots to protect player safety.

  • The incident occurred with 10 seconds left in the Sharks' 4-2 win over the Bruins on March 13, 2026.

The players

Kiefer Sherwood

A San Jose Sharks forward who set an NHL record with 384 hits last season.

Charlie McAvoy

A Boston Bruins defenseman who delivered the late hit to Sherwood's head.

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What they’re saying

“The hit was dirty and unnecessary and just stupid on his part.”

— Kiefer Sherwood, San Jose Sharks forward (sanjosehockeynow.com)

“If anyone can attest to being physical — humbly — I know, obviously, you know where you're aiming for. There's a difference between hitting to be physical and hitting to hurt, and I don't think any of my hits last year were ever to the head.”

— Kiefer Sherwood, San Jose Sharks forward (sanjosehockeynow.com)

What’s next

The NHL Department of Player Safety will review the hit and determine if any disciplinary action will be taken against Charlie McAvoy.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing need for the NHL to more consistently address dangerous head shots and protect player safety, even in the final seconds of a game when the outcome has already been decided.