Should teams be clearing the bench for every milestone goal?

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak hit a major milestone on Tuesday night when he scored the 400th goal of his NHL career in a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After the puck went in, his teammates poured onto the ice from the bench for a sizable group celebration that caused a slight delay to the game.

It brought to mind the many recent on-ice celebrations that the Washington Capitals have had when Alexander Ovechkin tied the all-time goal record, broke it a few days later and then hit 900 earlier this season, and opinions on the necessity of the gesture are divided around the league.

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed Boston’s reaction to Pastrnak’s big moment and whether that should be the norm for such milestones moving forward.

Tyler Yaremchuk: When the Capitals came on to the ice for Ovi’s 900th, I was like listen, “You’ve come on the ice for three of his last seven goals. There has to be a line somewhere.” But you know what? He was the first player to ever get 900. I can at least see a logic to it. The Boston Bruins all coming on to the ice for David Pastrnak’s 400th goal, that’s where we have to draw the line in all of this… So now does every team for every player that hits a 100-goal benchmark, are we all coming out on the ice now? Is this just the new NHL?

Carter Hutton: As a player, I don’t think it needs to be done here. It’s awesome, it’s unbelievable. What I think you do, obviously the bench is pumped and they’re fired out about it, you go to the bench, you celebrate, the game continues. Then at the first TV timeout there’s like a video tribute of him getting 400 and he gets a standing ovation… there’s so many landmarks that get hit all the time, so I do respect it, but like, come on, man.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…