NHL makes decision on auto-suspension for Brad Marchand shoving a ref

PUBLICATION

Liam McCormick
May 3, 2024 (4:21 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The NHL Department of Player Safety continues to prove itself to be a total joke. Last night, Bruins forward Brad Marchand blatantly shoved a referee, which is supposed to warrant an automatic suspension. Instead, Player Safety is choosing to ignore it.

I40.4 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.

The NHL's rules clearly states that any deliberate contact with a referee is considered one of the most heinous offences, and warrants an immediate and automatic 3 game suspension. Marchand clearly shoved the referee in a frustration about not getting to the bench and losing the game, and yet the NHL is choosing to ignore this, presumably because he's a star player.

It's simply unjust that the Bruins and Marchand are getting away with this offence, and it completely decimates the perceptions of the actual rules. If an automatic suspension isn't even going to be enforced, what's the point of having the rule?

The NHL has a high priority to protect their officials, and places these extremely strict rules to really deter players from even small shoves like this. It's frankly shameful to see them ignore the rule for the sake of entertainment in a playoff series, because as Leafs fans know especially - no such concessions were made for players in the past like Nazem Kadri.