Brad Marchand is another Eddie Haskell

Eddie Haskell – America’s Bad Boy! The act of overt flattery to put someone at ease so you can take advantage of their lowered defenses.

“When child actor Ken Osmond stepped onto the set of Leave it to Beaver in 1957, he not only entered our living rooms, he homesteaded a permanent place in the American pop culture. The poster child for sneaky, rotten kids everywhere, he was the reference point for cautious mothers to warn their children about. And everyone in America knew an Eddie Haskell at some point in his or her lives….”

Joe McDonald, ESPN:

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct and was ejected for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin in the groin at 19:20 of the first period Tuesday night at TD Garden.

The puck was in Tampa Bay's zone and Dotchin was defending the front of the net when Marchand attempted to play the puck, but finished with the spear. Lightning trainer Tom Mulligan tended to Dotchin, who remained on the ice for several minutes before skating off on his own.

He will have a hearing with NHL Player Safety on Thursday morning.

Marchand has been suspended or fined three times previously for infractions directed at an opponent’s lower body. While slew footing and clipping are not identical plays, they involve an attack on an opponent’s lower body that can cause a defenseless player to crash dangerously to the ice. Here, Marchand again attacks the lower body of an opponent in a manner that causes him to cartwheel to the ice in a dangerous fashion. He also has a tomahawk chop on his record.

Marchand’s first suspension came in March 2011, for two games on a hit. Columbus Blue Jackets' center, R.J. Umberger was in a vulnerable position: off-balance, low to the ice, with his back to Marchand. Marchand stuck an elbow out and nailed him in the back of the head.

Slew footing the New York Rangers’ forward Derick Brassard. He was unhurt, and Marchand got away with a two-game suspension.

Marchand dropped low and hammered Vancouver Canucks' defenseman Sami Salo in the knees, resulting in a concussion for Salo and a five-game suspension.

Clipped Ottawa Senators' defenseman Mark Borowiecki from behind earning a three game suspension.

Jonathan Willis, Bleacher Report:

January 26, 2017 - There is every reason to think that Marchand is going to keep kicking out his opponents’ feet and hitting them from behind and going low on hits. It doesn’t seem like the NHL is all that interested in stopping him. There simply isn’t any question. He's a dirty player and a danger to his peers.

Brad Marchand is an overwhelming choice when representatives from Make-A-Wish or Team IMPACT need a volunteer to meet with their children. He has a gift. Maybe Brad can eliminate his phoniness on ice to match his off-ice behavior.

The fictional Eddie Haskell grew up and became a Los Angeles policeman.


Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy