Brad Marchand’s suspension is technically over, but it might not be after all

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has served his six-game suspension and will be eligible to play against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.

However, he is still dealing with the hefty suspension as Chris Johnston explained on last night’s edition of Insider Trading on TSN, that the matter remains open at the moment.

“It might still be in courts. We’ll see what Brad Marchand decides, but as of today, he hasn’t decided whether or not he wants to move forward and have an appeal heard by a neutral arbitrator. Gary Bettman has already upheld the six-game suspension for this brush with Tristan Jarry a few weeks ago. Brad Marchand has sat out those games as you’ve said, but he feels that he was targeted here, that there’s kind of a principled aspect to why he might move forward, also if any games were reduced it would be worth $75,000 per game back in his pocket. He has until Friday to make a decision.”

It was reported that during Marchand’s appeal, commissioner Gary Bettman made it quite clear the forward’s track history is accumulating. But it sounds like Marchand disagrees with that very point and could look to get the review from an independent arbitrator.

In his appeal, Marchand reportedly mentioned that it was stupid of him to pull the move, though he and NHLPA argued suspension was excessive based on punishment (or non-punishment for other, similar issues, etc…) The ruling then revealed what Jarry said to Marchand to piss him off, admitting that he went after Jarry when the Penguins goalie commented “how about that f—ing save?” Marchand admitted that “my emotions got the best of me and I made a poor decision.” He “readily admitted” to attacking Jarry and called his conduct “stupid”.

While the six games are done and over with, the money might count in the end, but, come on we all know this is about ego, pride and reputation here.

Do you believe he should appeal the suspension once again?