By: Andrew Taverna | Follow me on Twitter: @andrewtaverna
Brad Marchand has been suspended three games for a slew-footing incident by the Department of Player Safety. During last night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks, Marchand was involved in a play against opposing player Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He became entangled with Ekman-Larsson from behind and positionally pulled Ekman-Larsson back from his upper body while engaging his back leg simultaneously.
This is arguably a slew-footing penalty and would generally be an in-game penalty. That said, the Department of Player Safety has determined additional factors that created this being worthy of a suspension. According to the Department of Player Safety video, the two primary aggravating factors are the use of his upper and lower body to create a dangerous hit against the opposing player and Marchand’s previous history of supplemental discipline.
Let’s start with the easy one. Yes, Marchand has a long history with the league and their Player Safety crew and has admittedly had some sketchy plays in his career. To add to that, Marchand has also been previously suspended for a slew-footing incident. Without a doubt, Brad Marchand has had his issues, but since his elevation to super-star level, he has undoubtedly cleaned that up. A three-game suspension seems heavy in this situation, even with Marchand’s previous history.
The second factor of a dangerous hit using both the lower body and upper body to create leverage is where the league has been seriously inconsistent. On multiple occasions this season, this same play has been anything from no discipline, to PK Subbans infamous multi-fine year, to now a three-game suspension. The inconsistent and random nature in which the Department of Player Safety makes these calls will make it extremely challenging for players to understand what they can and cannot do.
At the end of the day, Marchand is now sitting three games, and the Boston Bruins will be finding themselves having to find creative ways to win while they miss their top-tier forward.
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