Feb 16: The appeal is taking place this afternoon in New York, where Marchand will plead his case to try and get a reduced sentence. He has already served three of his six games, with the Bruins going 1-2 in his absence.
Feb 11: The NHLPA has filed an appeal on behalf of Brad Marchand regarding his recent six-game suspension. The first appeal will be to commissioner Gary Bettman, after which Marchand can appeal to an independent arbitrator. Speaking to the media today, Marchand gave his thoughts on the suspension, and a three-game ban that he received earlier this season:
We believe that the last suspension was very hefty. When I got three games, it should have been one, based on the fact that I have turned my game around and become a pretty good player in this league. Like they said, you’re not going to escape the history part of it which ultimately set me up for this one. I’m not going to say or justify that what I did was right. But this was a very deep suspension for these actions.
Marchand went on to suggest that the way suspensions and other supplementary discipline are handled in the NHL will be a big issue when it comes to negotiating the next CBA, and believes his actions, in this case, weren’t suspension-worthy on their own. It’s his history that obviously came into play here, given he has been suspended seven times in the past to go along with five fines.
He has already served one game of this six-game suspension, and it is currently scheduled to expire after the Bruins play the Colorado Avalanche on February 21. Even if he were to receive a reduced sentence from one of the levels of appeal, it may not necessarily get him back in the lineup any sooner, depending on how long it takes to go through the process. What it could do is save him some money, as Marchand is forfeiting nearly $450K with this current ban. Any reduction in the sentence could force the Bruins to pay him retroactively, even if it comes down after the games are missed.
If Boston can get him back any sooner though, it certainly would be an important change. The team is without Patrice Bergeron as he deals with a concussion and looked outclassed against the Carolina Hurricanes last night, losing 6-0 and being outshot 43-34. While Marchand may be a polarizing figure to many hockey fans, he’s arguably the most important forward on the Bruins roster and has 49 points through 39 games this year.
It’s not often that you find wingers that have received Hart and Selke trophy votes in five consecutive seasons but that’s exactly what Marchand has done, as he turned himself from agitating two-way player to one of the best all-around forwards in hockey. Any game without him in the lineup will leave Boston at a severe disadvantage, so getting him back is a top priority.
This is not the first suspension to be appealed this season. In December, Bettman decided to reduce Jason Spezza’s six-game suspension to four after the Toronto Maple Leafs forward filed an appeal. That case couldn’t be more different from this one though. Spezza’s actions were obviously a targeted attack on a player that he was angry with, but it was his long history of clean play that Bettman referenced when reducing the suspension. In this case, it was Marchand’s history that directly led to the league handing down such a “hefty” ban.
maybe keep that stick out to the face of Ullmark and we don’t have a problem there, bubby… just go h.a.m. like Probie did on Riendeau waay back and leave the stick out of it… hope the six ‘sticks’… lol
Couldn’t the LBOH #2 have gone with the trendy, “Hey, GP, I just had a *moment*…”?
Make it 9. He doesn’t feel it should be 6…. Who gives a rats azz what you think. You are a coward and dirty player
Turned his game around HAHAHA. Rat Face is funny too!
I’m sorry, but did he actually suggest that because he’s improved as a player that his suspension should have been reduced? I realize that “turned my game around” can be taken more than one way, but it sure sounds like he’s at least implying that his talent should be a mitigating factor. If so, I hope that somehow he gets an even longer suspension just for being a bonehead.
maybe, just maybe (and it’s a long shot in the dark) but he was there when Cooke (basically) ended Savard’s career and still has much ill-will towards the ‘pens as a whole.
@sovietcanuckistanian – According to the game log on HockeyReference, he wasn’t listed as being in that game, but that was his first year with the team. Decent shot in the dark by you, and it wouldn’t surprise any of us if he reveals in his post-career days that it was a seminal moment for him.
So, because he was on the roster when Savard was blindsided by an idiot move by Cooke, he would have felt it necessary to make a career of sucker punches after whistles, slew footing opposing players licking opposing players, and other cheap maneuvers even though he has demonstrated that he actually is a talented hockey player? Yeah, that makes sense.
Should be reduced to 3 or 4 games. If Tom Wilson is getting $5k fines for punching players in the back of the head who are laying face down on the ice and hair slamming superstars, then 6 games is incredibly inconsistent for the little slap and tickle in comparison that Marchand gave Jarry in this instance.
Get over it
why should anyone get over it? Wilson’s damn near caused people permanent injury on the ice om numerous occasions before and gotten less than a slap on the wrist?
Nothing to get over, just pointing out an egregious difference in the penalties.
Yeah, Wilson should have gotten a very long suspension for what he did against the Rangers. It makes no sense what the NHL hands down for punishment.
Marchand should get 6 because he not only high sticked the goalie well after the scrum but he pushed the the linesman to do it.
And this is about the 50th time he has done something scummy.
He poked his helmet. He didn’t do a two hander and split his face in half. Why are people acting like he launched his stick between his eyes and Jarry is dead?
No one ever said he injured Jarry let alone killed him. He punched him in the back of the head a good 5 seconds after the whistle. Then a good 10 seconds after the whistle pushed the linesman enough to get close to Jarry and he did spear him in the facemask between the eyes. Should get 6 games for doing both. Considering his history and had a suspension less than 12 months ago he could have received more.
the PA is right. the length was poor. it should have been 12.
I’m a big fan of this dirty rat, but…get bent, Bud.
Attacking people after the whistle who aren’t looking because you are sad you are losing isn’t allowed.
Sure, we’ll reduce it to 3 games, with the rest traded off for players policing themselves the next time they play them again…
How it should be
Marchand is pissed at Bettman for NHL players not going to the Olympics.. Bettman should just tell him it can be more…and smarten up all Marchand is doing is just making his team look bad very bad…
How about growing up Marchand. No crying in hockey got 6 games deal with it big baby lol
The sucker punch and the stick to the face should have gotten him 9-10. He’s lucky. For him to think he didn’t really do that bad is ridiculous.
Attaboy marchy!! Him and Bergeron both out is to much to take in the same week tuukka retired.
Bruins about to lose 6 straight
6 more? Already lost 2 in a row.
OrrBourueShore, he doesn’t get to play while appealing so it doesn’t help.
6 straight not 6 more. Id like to see them lose 25 in a row but I’ll take 6 for now
As a Bruins fan, I hate the suspension, but as a hockey fan, I can’t argue against it. Marchand DOES have a long record of suspensions and fines, and it was a pretty egregious business. I’ve heard the scuttlebutt that Jarry had taken a dirty shot at Marchand earlier, but sheesh, you live by the sword, you’re gonna get stabbed in return.
I kind of wonder what the fine would be for any player not named Marchand gets in this situation. Was it a rat move? Yes. Did anyone get hurt? No. I don’t know if punching a goalie in the helmet is more dangerous than a slap shot at 100 mph. If the Penguins had a problem with it, drop the gloves. League is somewhere between marshmallow and baby sh!t soft. Marchand deserved more for the slewfoot earlier in the year.
Remember when goalies like Billy Smith, Ron Hextall and Patrick Roy, just to name a few, used to be able to defend themselves? A player like Marchand wouldn’t have pulled that BS back in the day.
I’m just glad to see the NHLPA do something other than collect money from the players they allegedly represent. Heck, maybe they’ll address that escrow issue next!
They wanted Donald Fehr and they got him.
@Gbear – I don’t want to ruin your day, but the NHLPA actually just collect money and sit on their hands.
Talk is talk, and talk sounds sexy. Go NHLPA and talk!
That is what Unions do. And I’m not some form of capitalist / trumpist / or other “right wing person”.
I just calculate, and having been in unions, been outside of it, been self employed, I can say without a doubt, Unions are Leeches (vampires) of money.
The only reason I don’t feel for the players is that they make MILLIONS! So it is ridiculous we even care.
I’m well aware of all this, thus my hint of sarcasm in my post.
The funny thing is, the NHLPA is representing the person who does the dirty deed and the person that the dirty deed was done to. Kinda makes them look like that they do not care about the person on the receiving end of the deed.
One of the dirtiest POS in the game deserves more