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If you somehow haven’t heard about Brad Marchand licking another player, this time Tampa Bay’s Ryan Callahan, I don’t know where you have been. This time it was after a big hit, and there was nothing borderline or room for interpretation this time. Brad Marchand straight up licked Callahan’s face. The internet reacted like the internet does, and now we are being told via a tweet from Darren Dreger that the NHL has had enough of the licking.
The NHL is involved and Marchand will be told to stop the licking nonsense immediately. The fact the NHL has to do this is ridiculous. https://t.co/THQlbx9QEQ
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 5, 2018
Others previously reported the league called the Bruins about his antics, which he then personally discredited via his personal Twitter.
This time, it’s probably fair to assume the league is taking a stand as the amount of publicity around this can’t be a good look for the league, already amidst a near historically rough showing by their officials.
Update: ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski has confirmed that Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has stepped in.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly tells ESPN that those were Brad Marchand's last licks. "Yes, we will be communicating with the [Bruins]. We don't expect it to happen again." My story: @NHLBruins @TBLightning https://t.co/MPifupJd2g
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 5, 2018
Update: The league itself has weighed in, saying supplemental discipline is somehow on the table, despite the rule book not explicitly saying it is against the rules.
NHL’s Colin Campbell spoke with Boston’s Brad Marchand and GM Don Sweeney today. The League put the player on notice that his actions last night are unacceptable and similar behavior in the future will be dealt with by way of supplemental discipline.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 5, 2018