Marchand appealing suspension, doesn't think he should sit out at all

Brad Marchand filed an appeal Friday regarding his six-game ban for roughing and high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry.

Shortly after Marchand said he was thinking about challenging the ruling Friday afternoon, the NHLPA confirmed he had done so. He'll first appeal to commissioner Gary Bettman and then potentially to an independent arbitrator, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Earlier on Friday, the Boston Bruins' star agitator made it clear he didn't think his actions warranted a suspension at all.

"Was it stupid? Of course, it was stupid. I'm not denying that," Marchand said Friday, according to The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa. "I absolutely should not have done it. But suspension-worthy? I don't think so."

Marchand added that he didn't believe Jarry was in danger of getting hurt as a result of the incidents.

"These plays were not going to injure Jarry. ... He was very well protected," Marchand said. "The fact that it's six games is based on history, not on the play."

The winger said he discussed his long list of previous indiscretions with the league, and he remains convinced his resume is to blame for this decision.

"(It's a) very very hefty suspension for these plays, so the only way they can justify that is on the history side of things," he said.

Marchand pointed to the fact that he's made an effort to clean up his game and has been more productive offensively. However, the veteran claims the NHL doesn't factor that into supplemental discipline, citing his previous suspension for slew-footing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in November.

"They don't measure progress, which I've come to find out, and it goes back to the last one," he said. "We believe the last suspension was very hefty. When I got three games, it should've been one, based on the fact that I've turned my game around (and) become a pretty good player in this league."

Marchand punched Jarry in the head following a scoring chance and later hit the netminder's mask with his stick Tuesday night. The officials handed him a match penalty and a roughing minor.

The Bruins forward has already served one game of the ban, missing Thursday's 6-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

This marks the eighth suspension of Marchand's 13-year career.

Copyright (C) 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.