Bruins' Marchand Avoids Suspension for Shoving Linesman

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand appears to have dodged any discipline for shoving linesman Ryan Daisy out of the way as he headed off for a line change in Game 6 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marchand was battling Toronto’s Tyler Bertuzzi along the boards, crosschecking him into the Boston bench moments earlier.  As linesman Ryan Daisy separated the two, he ended up in front of the bench door, obstructing Marchand’s attempt to leave the ice on a line change. 

The Bruins’ captain unceremoniously shoved Daisy out of the way to exit the ice. 

The NHL rulebook is very strict – and specific – when it comes to physical abuse of officials.  Here are the applicable parts of Rule 40:

Any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official … shall receive a
game misconduct penalty. In addition, the following (40.2, 40.3, 40.4) disciplinary penalties shall apply.

Automatic Suspension – Category II – Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, or who spits on an official, shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.

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.

So why wasn’t Marchand suspended?

First off, he didn’t receive a game misconduct penalty. Heck, they didn’t even tag him with any sort of unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play, let alone one for abuse of officials.  

It’s that game misconduct that triggers the ‘automatic’ portions of Rule 40. 

That being said, there’s nothing stopping the NHL from handing out a suspension anyway.  We saw it earlier this year when Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman was suspended three games for throwing a stick at a referee.  No penalty was assessed during the game. 

Here’s what happens after the game on a physical  abuse of officials situation:

Immediately after the game in which such game misconduct penalty is imposed, the Referees shall, in consultation with the Linespersons, decide the category of the offense. They shall make a verbal report to the League’s Director of Hockey Operations and advise of the category and of the offense… 

The League will then hold a conference call with the NHLPA to review the Referees application of this rule, and will refrain from issuing public comment affirming the Referees application of Rule 40 until that call is complete.

Again, this only applies when there’s an in-game penalty assessed.  As that didn’t happen on this play, it’s likely that an informal discussion took place following the game between the officials and series supervisor Bill McCreary, who relayed the conversation to NHL Director of Officiating Stephen Walkom.

While the Bruins’ captain’s shove was entirely inappropriate, it’s reasonable to believe that Daisy acknowledged that his positioning may have contributed to Marchand’s actions. 

Nonetheless, we’re surprised that the NHL hasn’t taken any action. Even a cursory fine of (all together now, say it with me) the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement would reinforce the message that the officials should not be pushed on the ice, even if they end up inadvertently in the way. Paying out $5000 may not mean much to a guy making $5 million this season, but at least it sends a message. 

A stronger message, though, would come via a suspension. Even if Daisy’s in the way, that doesn’t give Marchand the green light to move him. 

This is not the only run-in Marchand has had with the officials in this series. 

The Bruins’ forward was tackled by linesman Andrew Smith as he moved in to break up an altercation during Tuesday’s Game 5 in Boston.

The linesman accidentally takes out Marchand ???? pic.twitter.com/hoaam3kcNi

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 1, 2024