Bruce Cassidy on Brad Marchand: ‘I bought him some Mentos and told him to have at it’
If Brad Marchand is going to keep kissing the opposition, Bruce Cassidy wants him to do so with fresh breath.
The NHL reportedly asked that the Bruins tell Marchand to stop licking opponents after he gave Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov a peck on the neck during Game 1 of the first round series. On Friday morning, Boston’s head coach appeared on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher and Rich program to offer his take on the cuddling controversy.
“I bought him some Mentos and told him to have at it,” said Cassidy. “What the heck, it’s a good storyline.”
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Maple Leaf? #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/UFO1UFVO7Y
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) April 13, 2018
Cassidy noted Komarov didn’t seem to be too upset by the incident (“I kind of liked it”), and that the league office has Marchand’s number if they want to deliver a message to him. He said the forward would undoubtably have a good comeback when they do.
“Hopefully he doesn’t get himself in any trouble,” Cassidy said. “I told you this before — if this is the worst he does, we’re all happier, right? Because you know Marchy can go the other way.”
In a series of tweets Friday, Marchand denied the report that he’d been warned by the league office.
https://twitter.com/Bmarch63/status/989863349579079681
https://twitter.com/Bmarch63/status/989863432403861505
But the NHL says it’s true. According to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, “A league spokesperson confirmed a report by Sportsnet that the NHL demanded Marchand not repeat that particular antic again. A message was communicated to Marchand through the series’ supervisor of officials Mick McGeough.”
Whether or not the message made it to Marchand, the Bruins’ first line will have a minty flavor when it takes to the ice for Game 1 against the Lightning on Saturday.
