A letter submitted to the Montreal Gazette...

Indulge me for a moment while I blame the victim of the recent James Neal/Brad Marchand incident during a Penguins vs. Bruins NHL game.

Let’s suppose it had been the well respected Patrice Bergeron instead of Marchand in a defenceless position on the ice. It would not be shocking to see James Neal pull a hamstring in trying to avoid a knee to head collision.

Brad Marchand is one of the NHL’s most celebrated trash talking agitators who on that night achieved his goal of instigating a retaliatory penalty with a bonus five-game suspension. The hit could have ended Marchand’s season.

Why does the NHL allow all of this senseless trash talking and constant after-the-whistle scrums? The NBA got rid of trash talk and intimidation with punishing technical fouls that affect the individual and his team. NFL players are constantly wary of the significant 15-yard penalty for gestures and provocation.

The NHL needs to put the benches back on opposite sides of the ice and the officials need to use the 10 minute misconduct more often. Here’s for a hope that NHL players stop yapping and just play the game with a healthy respect. Are they not all part of the same union?