Panthers’ Marchand fined for unsportsmanlike conduct against Sabres

Well, look who’s in trouble again.

On Sunday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand has been fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct against Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

The incident in question occurred during the matchup between the two teams on Saturday afternoon. Just past the halfway mark of the second period, Dahlin knocked down Marchand from behind in the Florida zone. Marchand, enraged by the act and non-penalty, took matters into his own hands. First, he knocked down the Sabres captain, before pouncing on the unsuspecting player and pummeling him with a few punches.

Marchand wasn’t done yet. The Halifax native then ripped off Dahlin’s helmet, carried it all the way to the penalty box, ripping the straps off the bucket before throwing it back onto the ice.

Marchand was given four minutes in penalties due to his actions – two minutes for interference and another two for roughing. The instance was part of a disappointing contest for the defending Stanley Cup champions, as the Panthers lost, 3-0.

The $5,000 fine is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement. The money goes directly to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Obviously, this isn’t the first time the two-time Stanley Cup winner has faced supplemental discipline. Beginning with a two-game suspension during the 2010-11 season, Marchand has been suspended eight times, including twice during the 2021-22 season. He’s also been fined another seven times. The last time he had to pay for his actions came in February 2023 while a member of the Boston Bruins. He was fined $5,000 for tripping then-Seattle Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Marchand is in his first season of his six-year contract that he signed with Florida this past June. The deal has an AAV of $5.25 million through the 2029-30 campaign. He came to the Sunshine State right at the trade deadline last March. He was an important player in helping the Panthers win a second straight Stanley Cup, scoring 10 goals and 20 points in the postseason.

Marchand will get a chance to play against his former team, as the Panthers (3-4-0) visit the Bruins on Tuesday night.