Bruins’ Brad Marchand’s six-match ban upheld upon appeal by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman

Bruins’ Brad Marchand’s six-match ban upheld upon appeal by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman

Brad Marchand

The National Hockey League (NHL) commissioner Gary Bettman upheld Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand‘s six-game suspension on Friday. He reckoned that the winger’s conduct was “intentional and involved an excessive and unnecessary use of force” against “an unsuspecting player.”

Marchand was earlier suspended by the NHL Department of Player Safety on February 9 for punching and high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry. Since the suspension was longer than five matches, Marchand had the chance to appeal to Bettman but that hearing was held on Wednesday.

“It was a situation that arose and I reacted very poorly,” Marchand said last week. “So it really doesn’t matter what started it. In that situation, I obviously have to be much better at controlling my emotions and not reacting that way.

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“Yeah, was it stupid? Of course, it was stupid. I’m not denying that. I absolutely should not have done it.”

“Marchand’s behaviour and lack of judgment did not meet acceptable NHL standards”

Brad Marchand
Brad Marchand

Bettman went on to state that Marchand’s actions had “excessive and unnecessary force because there was no justification for any force being applied given that the play had been whistled dead.”

Replying to this, Marchand said his punch was prompted by Jarry saying, “How about that f***ing save?”

“To say that Mr Marchand overreacted to that comment would be an understatement.”

“Unfortunately, however, Mr Marchand’s behaviour and lack of judgment in respect of these incidents did not meet acceptable NHL standards,” Bettman wrote in his ruling. “He created a distraction which reflected poorly on himself, on his team and on the League as a whole, and as such, I find he also deserves the penalty he received.”

He added: “Having said that, I encourage Mr Marchand to reflect on this experience and to use it positively in furtherance of his efforts to refine and improve his on-ice image and game for everyone’s benefit.”

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