Brad Marchand Returns from Suspension

Jan 19, 2012, 00:45 EST

Just a friendly reminder to place the Nose Face Killah back into your lineup tonight.

After serving his five-game suspension, the speedy winger is hoping to spark the Bruins’ offense. Expect him to take his regular shift next to Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin. For the team’s full lines, click here.

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After much deliberation and an over-the-phone hearing, Brendan Shanahan and the NHL suspended Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand for five games. The feisty forward claimed to be protecting himself when rendering a low hit on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo that not only knocked him out of the game but gave him a concussion.

Marchand will be eligible to play by mid next week as the Bruins play nine games before the All-Star Game while Salo has no timetable for return.

As fantasy hockey owners we are biased towards this reaction. His 15 PIM on Saturday likely gave your team a nice boost for the week but his absence for 10 calendar days is a big blow to even the more stacked of lineups. If it weren’t for the Bruins playing an abnormally arduous five-game week, we would likely miss #63 for most of the month.

Those clamoring for justice in the League received it today. Marchand was given the maximum suspension allowable in a phone hearing and will now be known as a repeat offender moving forward — which could put a bit more risk into his fantasy hockey value.

Then again, GM Peter Chiarelli and company are incensed, especially because they believe they are in the right. In fact, they claim Shanahan gave them the OK this offseason to conduct hits of that nature when defending yourself. From The Big Bad Blog:

“It is equally disappointing that Brad sought the counsel of the Department this past Fall for an explanation and clarification regarding this type of scenario so as to adjust his game if necessary. He was advised that such an incident was not sanctionable if he was protecting his own safety. Given our feeling that Brad was indeed protecting himself and certainly did not clip the player as he contacted the player nowhere near the knee or quadricep, today’s ruling is not consistent with what the Department of Player Safety communicated to Brad.”

The Bruins claims certainly leave a bit more to interpretation. Nevertheless, a low hit of this nature certainly will garner attention whether clean or dirty, self defense or malicious intent.

We leave you with a video of the incident, courtesy of Sheriff Shanny. Feel free to scream at the top of your lungs in the comments…