Brad Marchand has a history with the NHL Department of Player Safety, but past transgressions didn’t hurt the Boston Bruins forward too much Thursday.
The Department of Player Safety announced it has given Marchand a $10,000 fine — the maximum allowable fine — for what it deemed a “dangerous trip” on Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall on Tuesday night.
Here’s the play in question.
Marchand, many feel, is lucky to get away without a suspension. He’s been suspended six times since March 2011, and two of those suspensions were for slew-footing opponents. The trip of Kronwall isn’t as bad as those slew-footing incidents, but it’s a little surprising to see Marchand get the benefit of the doubt.
Marchand’s non-suspension is especially good news for the Bruins, who have struggled offensively all season and enter Thursday ranked 23rd in the NHL in goals per game. Marchand, a first-time All-Star, has been an offensive bright spot. He’s scored 19 goals to go along with 28 assists in 51 games, and that includes a two-goal performance in Boston’s overtime win over Detroit.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
