Marchand gets 5 games

[spooner9ball]

Man, I remember the good ol' days when that was just a sweet *** hip check, with no clip or any of that jazz attached. From the front, that can wreck a knee, but from behind, I think that hit looks SWEET.

Legal, illegal, made of pudding, I could care less; when I was 12, I sat up all night waiting for a complete check like that.

I'm 37, though, and the game has been pussified a great deal since then.

 

[timber09]

I agree that the NHL has a selective punishment system and I concede that I have cringed a couple times at Ballard's hits - however, neither one of those arguements should grant Marchand immunity in this incident.

Players are going a lot lower and lot more aggresively at the legs and hips now - just the way of the world when you get penalized for going high. Hopefully the NHL sticks to these types of suspensions as they are predatory and dangerous.

A lot of knees being thrown around lately as well and the NHL better reel those in quickly or someone is really going to get hurt soon.

 

[thorn]

We need the fighters back in the game. No one can take this bull**** anymore. No respect for the other players.

 

[StanChad]

Onegoal you seem to be making examples where there was no intent. Mcginn on Ballard, Mcginn had already injured 2 Canucks defenseman and was going in for a thrid Ballard protected himself. Marchand went after Salo after Salo went shoulder to shoulder then submarined him. The suspensions is based on Marchands past, the intent of the play and the fact Salo suffered a concussion. Some people seriously need to watch the NHL disciplinary video.

EDIT: The league told Marchand if he did that while protecting himself then it would be considered a clean play. But the video evidence shows Marchand's intent to injure.

 

[tiger tiger]

I'll be the first to admit that there have been times when I saw a couple of Ballard's hip checks and thought it was a bit borderline. And if it is borderline, I'm not going to defend him. Ballard got a penalty in the SCF for a hip check, and the refs callled it clipping. I'm cool with that even though the contact point was not the knees, but it was close. Some people point to Raymond's hip check on Marchand in game 5, while conveniently forgetting Marchand in game 4.

I will NOT defend a dirty hit, even if it's on the Canucks. I think we've talked enough during the SCF's for you to know that not all fans wear homer tinted glasses. (except for Game 7 for me, after a few shots to numb the pain).

I thought Rome got the book and then some thrown at him, but I'm not b!tching about it. That's just how it goes.

What I didn't like about this hit is that Marchand feigned shoulder to shoulder and then submarined him. Usually the hip checks that we see, the player receiving the contact knows that he's about to get hip checked b/c you have to lead with the hip to be legal. Usually, it's a play where the forward is coming down the wing and the d-man uses his hip to cut him off from continuing down the side.

IMO, this was not a hip check. Marchand submarined him. Marchand did the same to D. Sedin in Game 4 after Marchand clotheslined Ehrhoff. It reminds me of some WWE move where you flip your opponent over your back as they are running towards you. Except in the WWE it's scripted and you're not falling on ice.

I don't mind the hip check when you squish the player into the boards or bump him off his skates. I don't really like the checks where the guy goes flipping over because it's dangerous on many different levels. We've seen guys fall on their face/neck awkwardly, a skate come up to cut player's neck, sticks go flailing in other players faces or on top of player's heads, etc.

I questioned this before too about how coaches blindly support a player's borderline play. Now Chirelli is questioning the league and calling out Shanahan. There's got to be some fine coming his way.

I don't know if it makes the players feel like coaches/management have their back, but to me, I lose a little respect when coaches/management act like blinded fans.

 

[tiger tiger]

There's a strange occurance happening....everyone who thinks 5 games is right is from BC...hmmmmm.....


.....obviously i'm a bruins fan...but players have been hit with elbows directed towards them like a missile and have gotten less. I was expecting 1, max 2.
5 is way off.

Like Lucic on Miller, right?

I agree that the league has been inconsistent. If Shanny was as consistent as he was in the beginning of the season, Marchand would have received 10 games. Just ask Wisneiwski.

I actually think that Marchand is a good hockey player. Just look at his points this year, and last year's playoffs. I hope he doesn't turn into an Avery where he loves being an a-hole on the ice. I think he's a better player than that. Hopefully, as he matures, he'll realize it too. I had him as a lock for top 6 forward this year, but he's still playing as if he has something to prove. You've made it to the NHL, you're not in the ECHL. In the end, his hot-headedness cost Boston the game. If he just delivered a shoulder to shoulder hit, the talk could have been how the Bruins still own the Canucks in Boston.

 

[solt0131]

Did I read that bolded part right? A dirty player he may be but Matt Cooke has the "dirtiest player in the game" all locked up. I'm no fan of this hit or Marchand but really, "dirtiest player in the game"? C'mon.

Tell me something dirty that Matt Cooke has done this season.

Last year, no argument, it was Cooke. He has officially been de-throned by Brad Marchand.

 

[tiger tiger]

Tell me something dirty that Matt Cooke has done this season.

Last year, no argument, it was Cooke. He has officially been de-throned by Brad Marchand.

I'll give credit to Cooke. He's turned over a new leaf and looks like he's trying to change. But he's built his bad rep over several years. However, Marchand still looks like he doesn't give a flying f.

I guess Marchand sees Cooke trying to vacate top spot, and is more than happy to try and take Cooke's place. On his way there! Attaboy!

 

[TanguayFan]

I actually think that Marchand is a good hockey player. Just look at his points this year, and last year's playoffs. I hope he doesn't turn into an Avery where he loves being an a-hole on the ice. I think he's a better player than that. Hopefully, as he matures, he'll realize it too.

Unfortunately, I'm beginning to wonder if he'll ever mature. There's no denying his hockey talent, but since he's been considered a punk everywhere he's played, that would indicate that he's got a whole lot of growing up to do. The guy played for 3 different teams in Juniors and was scratched by the Mooseheads for an elimination game against Gatineau in the QMJHL playoffs in '08. Needless to say, he's probably the most reviled player in Mooseheads history. Now he's in the NHL, and has been chastised by Claude Julien himself for his stupid play, and yet he still continues to act like a punk. The Bruins should sit his a$$ for another couple games after the suspension is up, maybe that'll knock some sense into him.

 

[sprague11]

I figured 5 games is about right.

 

[MMarch]

Onegoal you seem to be making examples where there was no intent. Mcginn on Ballard, Mcginn had already injured 2 Canucks defenseman and was going in for a thrid Ballard protected himself.

You say there was no intent and Ballard stuck his leg out and went at McGinn's knee to "protect himself". Isn't that the same as the Boston saying Marchand was trying to "protect himself"? If you are so afraid of a guy, why even put yourself in a position to get hit by him, Ballard could have just let him skate right on by no? Instead, Ballard initiated the contact, stuck his leg out, and hit him in the knee. If you honestly believe that was "protecting himself" and not intentional, well, there's nothing anyone can say to change your mind. I just find it funny/annoying that when it's a player on your team you have a reason or excuse to justify it, but when it's a player on another team that does something to your players, it's dirty/illegal/suspension worthy.

Like I said earlier, I am not defending what Marchand did and I'm not making excuses for him. I just can't understand how the league looks at that and says 5 games, yet they let other similiar hits go without even looking at them. An elbow to the head is an elbow to the head, shouldn't matter who the player is. I will agree that repeat offenders should get harsher suspensions, but if Matt Duchene (random example) elbows someone in the head, he should be suspended even if for just one game, and if he does it again he should get more games. Just because a player doesn't have a history he shouldn't be excluded from discipline. Same here, if Ballard goes low at a guys knee in a dangerous fashion, it is a dangerous hit that is not allowed by the rule book and he should be punished accordingly. It's just the random wheel of what's a suspendable hit and what's not, and I do not put any of the blame on the referees. Things happen way to fast and they have to make a judgement on something that happens in a split second. The league has the ability to go back and watch it multiple times in slow mo so they are the ones who carry the responsibility, and until they start suspending/fining every player who does something like this, there is going to continue to be debate and a feeling that the discipline department is failing miserably.

 

[tiger tiger]

I agree there should be a table of automatic suspensions for certain infractions, with the NHL discipline committee reviewing it to see if more (and only more) games should be added.

Slew foot, hit from behind on defenceless player/blindside hit , Elbow to head - automatic 2 games.
Major boarding with charge, Flagrant elbow to head - automatic 5 games
Repeat offender - add 2 games. Grows exponentially with the number of suspensions in 2 calendar years. I.e. add 2 games for 2nd offence, 4 games for 3rd, 9 games for 4th, 16 for 5th, 25 games for 6th offence in 2 years.

but the NHLPA would NEVER go for this.


Also, I really wish Julien and Marchand would S T F U. Marchand still defends his actions. Indignant to the end. Just say nothing. The more you try to sell your side, the less respect I have for you. It's so blatant that Marchand is lying thru his teeth. Then Marhcand picks on AV's comments and said that AV is stirring the pot. You moron! It was in response to the "stupid" comment that your coach Julien said. The flawed logic is unbearable!

 

[tiger tiger]

Unfortunately, I'm beginning to wonder if he'll ever mature. There's no denying his hockey talent, but since he's been considered a punk everywhere he's played, that would indicate that he's got a whole lot of growing up to do. The guy played for 3 different teams in Juniors and was scratched by the Mooseheads for an elimination game against Gatineau in the QMJHL playoffs in '08. Needless to say, he's probably the most reviled player in Mooseheads history. Now he's in the NHL, and has been chastised by Claude Julien himself for his stupid play, and yet he still continues to act like a punk. The Bruins should sit his a$$ for another couple games after the suspension is up, maybe that'll knock some sense into him.

clearly he has a small man complex. Self-esteem issues?

 

[Yipper]

Also, I really wish Julien and Marchand would S T F U. Marchand still defends his actions. Indignant to the end. Just say nothing. The more you try to sell your side, the less respect I have for you. It's so blatant that Marchand is lying thru his teeth. Then Marhcand picks on AV's comments and said that AV is stirring the pot. You moron! It was in response to the "stupid" comment that your coach Julien said. The flawed logic is unbearable!

I 100% agree with this stated. It's a blatant statement and it is right

They really need to close their traps about this. They got the suspension, so deal with it.

For the last 2 days all I have heard is the Bruins organization "beezing" (you all know what word should go in there) about how it's not dirty, "beezing" about how it was protection, then "beezing" yesterday about the suspension, "beezing" more at the league and disrespecting them basically saying the league is a "moron", and once again Marchand today "beezing" about it some more.

I don't know who whines more? They got away with so much (insert word) .... that they should really just shut it.

 

[langway05]

IMO this thread has run it's course.

All sides have had an opportunity to state their opinion and counter point.