Brad Marchand out 5 games for hit to the head, which is a tough line to cross

OTTAWA -- Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended five games for his elbow to the head of New Jersey Devils' Marcus Johansson during Tuesday's game at TD Garden.

Here's the explanation from the NHL:


Marchand is considered a repeat offender and will forfeit $373,475.60 with the money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

BSJ analysis 

Since it was a phone hearing, the max suspension is five games.

This is the sixth time Marchand has been suspended for a total of 19 games. He was suspended for the final two games of the regular season last April for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin in the groin. He’s also been fined three times, including $10,000 for slew-footing Red Wings’ Niklas Kronwall last January.

He traveled today with the team, which recalled Anders Bjork from Providence to fill in, to Ottawa and will likely address his suspension on Thursday. Since he’s been down this road too many times, he’ll likely describe it as a selfish and undisciplined act. He’ll likely add that he’s not concerned with how anyone else feels outside the Bruins’ locker room. He’ll likely say that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Did Marchand deserve five games for the elbow to the head as a repeat offender? No doubt. If this were an isolated incident, one game, at most two, would be warranted. The issue is he’s crossed the line too many times.

Here’s where it gets tricky: Marchand has become an elite player in the NHL. There’s a reason why he was on the same line with Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron when Team Canada won the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. Marchand is at his best when he’s playing his game. If a team or a coach tries to stifle his ability and personality, his production will dip.

During his career, the Bruins have attempted to find that common ground. There have been plenty of closed-door meetings with upper management and the coaching staff. Teammates have talked to him about his play when needed. He’ll dial it back, but when he’s playing and producing at a high level, he tends to lose control.

That was the case Tuesday night when he crashed the net and elevated his elbow to make contact with Johansson’s head. After the Bruins’ 3-2 win, Marchand claimed he had no idea what happened.

This suspension comes at a terrible time for the Bruins. The team has earned points in 17 consecutive games and Marchand’s line, along with Bergeron and David Pastrnak is the best in the league right now. Losing Marchand and his production will have a negative effect on the Bruins’ momentum.

It comes down to this: there are hockey plays – stick work to certain body parts that occur during the course of every hockey game that players can accept – but hits to the head are a serious matter and need to stop.

Next time – and there will be a next time – Marchand is involved in a dirty play, the league won’t be as lenient and he’ll get 10 or more games. The Bruins can’t afford that anymore. He has to realize he’s not playing in the 80s.

That being said, every coach in the NHL would want Marchand on his team.