The Boston Bruins will be without Charlie McAvoy for a couple of weeks, and now must try to keep their hot streak going without Brad Marchand.
In the case of Marchand, it was by most accounts, an unforced error. The NHL didn’t buy the defense that Marchand was defending himself from New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson, instead handing the repeat offender a significant five-game suspension.
The NHL’s official explanation video notes that it “was not a defensive maneuver” and acknowledges that Marchand’s past as a repeat offender (five suspensions before this one, also three fines) played a role in the decision. The clip doesn’t mention Johansson’s possible concussion, however.
The narrative had been that Marchand was cleaning up his ways during his ascent among the NHL’s elite. He told The Toronto Star’s Bruce Arthur in November that he’s trying to avoid suspensions.
“I’m trying to get away from the s--- a little bit, and I have, just because they crack down on it so easily now and I can’t afford to get suspended. ... There are very few guys on any team that even get into anything. These kids that come up now, they’re all skill players, they don’t get into it. There’s no fighters anymore.”
The league has announced that #Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended for 5 games.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) January 25, 2018
Since March 2011, Marchand he has now been suspended a total of 6 times resulting in 19 games missed, and has lost a total of $872,535 in fines & forfeited salary.
Somewhat awkwardly, this five-game suspension might not stop Marchand from attending the 2018 All-Star Game this weekend.
All Star notes:
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) January 24, 2018
-Sounds like Brayden Point will replace Victor Hedman on Atlantic Team.
-Jon Quick is going to pass on the weekend. Replacement will be Mike Smith.
-Even if suspended, Marchand is expected to be in Tampa.
It’s been a controversial stretch for the Department of Player Safety. On one hand, many argue that they went too harsh with Andrew Cogliano, ending his ironman streak with a two-game suspension. Bitterness boiled over on that even more when Dustin Brown avoided a suspension for a nasty cross-check on Justin Schultz.
If those decisions were too hot and too cold, was this five-game suspension just right? If not, was it too little or even too much, considering his history?
Either way, NBCSN’s Liam McHugh is correct in saying that it was more than a slap on the wrist. Bob McKenzie provides more insight on the decision:
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.