NHL fines Bruins’ Brad Marchand maximum $10K for ‘dangerous trip’
Bruins All-Star winger and serial offender Brad Marchand has been fined $10,000 for a “dangerous trip” on Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the fine Thursday. It’s the maximum amount allowed under the collective bargaining agreement.
The incident occurred at the 12:27 mark of the first period during Boston’s 4-3 overtime win over the Red Wings on Tuesday. Marchand wasn’t penalized, and Kronwall remained in the game, but an NHL review deemed the play a “dangerous trip” worthy of a max fine but not suspension after meeting with Marchand earlier Thursday.
Marchand has been disciplined in the past several times for taking out opponents’ legs.
In 2011, the NHL fined Marchand $2,500 for a slew-foot on then-Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen. More recently, he was given a two-game suspension in 2015 for slew-footing then-Rangers forward Derick Brassard.
Marchand took out Kronwall’s legs from behind, but it wasn’t technically considered a slew-foot because he didn’t put his arm on Kronwall.
Marchand, who leads the Bruins with 47 points in 51 games, will join goalie Tuukka Rask in representing the team at this weekend’s All-Star Game.
It’s unclear whether that factored into the NHL’s decision not to issue a suspension. Marchand may not have been able to participate if that was the case.
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun noted an instance in 2012 when Alex Ovechkin skipped the All-Star Game while serving a three-game suspension.