NHL Player Safety makes final decision on Brad Marchand shoving ref

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Hunter Bowman
May 3, 2024 (7:57 PM)

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Last night, Brad Marchand found himself in hot water after shoving a referee beside the Boston Bruins bench, an act that could have led to a hefty 10-game suspension under NHL rules.

Despite the clear breach, the NHL's Department of Player Safety has decided against imposing any supplemental discipline on Marchand.

It's officially after 5 pm and it's clear the NHL won't be issuing any supplemental discipline for his shove on the linesman. This is a clear violation of rule 40.1, but the league has decided to ignore it.

This decision comes even though Marchand clearly violated NHL rules 40.1 and 40.4, which govern physical misconduct towards officials. His actions could have significantly impacted his team, especially with the Bruins gearing up for a crucial game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where their season hangs in the balance.

40.1 Game Misconduct � Any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official, in any manner attempts to injure an official, physically demeans, or deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall receive a game misconduct penalty.

40.4 Automatic Suspension � Category III � Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or physically threatens an official by (but not limited to) throwing a stick or any other piece of equipment or object at or in the general direction of an official, shooting the puck at or in the general direction of an official, spitting at or in the general direction of an official, or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.

As the captain and a pivotal figure for the Bruins, Marchand's presence in the lineup is undoubtedly a stroke of luck for the team, given the circumstances. His aggressive style of play often walks a fine line, and this time, it seems he's managed to stay just within bounds according to the league, though not without controversy.