Brad Marchand Dodges NHL Discipline for Head Hit, Set to Play in Winter Classic
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In a close call, Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand has avoided supplemental discipline for his elbow to the head of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson during a game earlier this week. Marchand was given a two-minute roughing minor, but the NHL's Department of Player Safety has decided against further punishment. According to a league source, the decision was made because Marchand's hit was penalized on the ice and was not excessively forceful. This means Marchand will be able to take to the ice for the Panthers' upcoming game against the New York Rangers in the 2026 Winter Classic at Miami's LoanDepot Park. The 37-year-old veteran was honored earlier in the season for reaching his 1,000th career point and has been a key player for the Panthers this season, recording 23 goals and 45 points in 38 games. Despite not being suspended since 2022, Marchand has accumulated eight career suspensions for dirty play, the most in NHL history. In other news, Marchand has been named to Hockey Canada's 25-man roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. This will be Marchand's first Olympic appearance, but he has previously won gold medals with Canada in other international competitions.
