Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand momentarily escaped the spotlight this weekend while he represented his team at All-Star weekend. Prior to the break, Marchand was under heavy heat after he deliberately elbowed New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson directly to the head. He subsequently received a five game suspension and has now collected six throughout his NHL career.
Former NHL defenceman Ryan Whitney discussed the suspension on the Spittin Chiclets podcast and didn't hold back his thoughts. Whitney provided his take on Marchand as a player and stated that he doesn’t “think this will ever stop.”
It’s tough to argue that playing with anger isn’t apart of Marchand’s “DNA.” At just 5’9, 181 lbs, the Nova Scotia native has instilled fear in his opponents through numerous slew-foots and questionable hits. But despite it all, Marchand has developed into an elite forward with an unparalleled edge. Through 38 games, he leads the NHL with a 1.32 points per game average.
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Marchand has been a key part of Boston’s current hot-streak and has clearly established himself as one of the team’s most valuable players. It will be interesting to see how the team fares without their pest in the lineup.
(H/T Spittin Chiclets)
