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Brad Marchand is tired of being labelled a goon

2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Competition - Accuracy Shooting

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins poses with fans during the Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting during the 2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Amalie Arena on January 27, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Brad Marchand wants you to know he’s trying.

He’d like you to know that he’s a changed man (despite his recent five-game suspension for a brutal and needless elbow to the head of New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson).

He’d like you to know he isn’t the same person that’s been suspended five times previously and fined an additional three times during his nine-year career.

It’s a tough life.

Speaking to NBC Boston’s Joe Haggerty on Monday, Marchand said his image as a dirty player is growing tiresome.

“I’ve tried for a while now to try and get away from that role and I just can’t seem to escape it,” Marchand said with one game left to serve of his latest suspension.

Two years ago, Marchand’s game changed. Handed more minutes, Marchand thrived and put up 37 goals and 61 points in 77 games, the highest totals of his career up to that point in both categories.

Last year, Marchand did one better, improving to a point-per-game player with 39 goals and 85 points in 80 games.

This season, Marchand is again on pace to put up big numbers. In 38 games, he’s amassed 21 goals and 50 points.

“I think, obviously, if you look back at the past few years, I’ve turned into a decent player and it’s tough to be branded with that name consistently,” Marchand said. “Obviously, it’s from my own doing but it’s tough to escape it a bit.”

Yet, despite the fact he’s lost close to $900,000 over 19 games missed due to suspension, Marchand seems to refuse to let go of his past, even if he alludes to it being a burden.

“Devil’s advocate there, it’s what I had to do to get into the league,” he said. “I’ll never say that I wouldn’t go back and play the same way again coming into the league. It’s what I had to do to earn a job.”

A look at Marchand’s suspension history:


  • 2010-11: Suspended two games for elbowing R.J. Umberger in the head.
  • 2011-12: Suspended five games for a low-bridge on Sami Salo.
  • 2014-15: Suspended two games for slew-footing Derick Brassard.
  • 2015-16: Suspended three games for clipping Mark Borowiecki.
  • 2016-17: Suspended for two games for spearing Jake Dotchin.

A look at Marchand’s fine history:


  • 2011-12: Fined $2,500 for slew-footing Matt Niskanen
  • 2015-16: Fined $5,000 for roughing Gabriel Landeskog
  • 2016-17: Fined $10,000 for tripping Niklas Kronwall

Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck