Bruins winger Brad Marchand has been suspended for five games for an elbowing incident from late in last night’s game against New Jersey, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced (video link). This represents the maximum number of games he could have received after participating in a phone hearing this afternoon. This will keep the 29-year-old, who leads Boston in scoring this season with 50 points (21-29-50) in 38 games, out of the lineup until February 8th.
Devils winger Marcus Johansson was the victim of the elbow and has already been diagnosed with a concussion, his second of the season. There is no timetable yet on how long he will be out of the lineup.
Marchand will still be eligible to participate in this weekend’s All-Star Game, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (Twitter link). He is classified as a repeat offender as this is the sixth suspension of his career and as a result, he will forfeit just over $373K that will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Winger Anders Bjork was made a late scratch for Boston’s farm team in advance of their game tonight and the Bruins have announced that he has been recalled from AHL Providence on an emergency basis. Although they didn’t have a roster spot opened up with this suspension, they can create an opening on the 23-man roster by transferring defenseman Charlie McAvoy (abnormal heart rhythm) to injured reserve.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Good. I’m a Bruin fan. But also a hockey fan. No need for that crap.
Brad Marchand is one of my favorite players, but he needs to stop pulling this crap, he’s been suspended many times in his career
Big fan of his but it’s getting exhastingly tiresome watching his continued dirty play, there’s no excuse for it you’re way too talented for this bs.
Well deserved. Totally unnecessary. Total bush league play.
This is totally about past reputation. There was an elbow but it wasn’t clearly evident that he intended to hit him. Yes I’m a Bruin fan but hockey is a rough sport and bleep happens. It’s not just to punish someone for there past when they’ve paid the price for those past transgressions
That’s what progressive discipline entails. He deserved 10 games.
Keep him out however many games Johansson is out.
Biggest scumbag in the league. Worse than Raffi Torres was because Marchand is incredibly talented. What a waste. Literally ruining the quality of another persons life for no reason other than you’re a huge pos.
Totally guessed his suspension! I thought he we would get between 5 to 10 game suspension!
Would you like a cookie?
admit I shocked though he only get a game. think this more about history then this incident.. Yet dustin brown is as dirty player he only gets fines all the time?
If Marchand had the presence of mind to say “oh, look, a vulnerable player, I’m going to try to elbow this guy in the head while I try to score” I’d be surprised.
Meanwhile, the Dustin Brown play was absurdly dirty. He was looking for revenge for the nut shot he got and cross checked a guy who was on his knees facing the boards for a long period time in the back of his nameplate pushing his head into the angle of the boards.
We’re talking about Brad Marchand, habitual offender. The ridiculously low number of games show how out of touch the Player Safety Committee is. They are a joke.