Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

NHL’s ruling on Brad Marchand hit sparks online firestorm

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Dec 31, 2025 1:27 PM ET

Comments after the hit by Brad Marchand on Mike Matheson Tuesday night included: "Marchand should be suspended for this shot to Matheson’s head. The head was the main point of contact, and the contact was avoidable (Rule 48). But he’ll just get fined."

Another read, "Marchand should get suspended for that. Pure headshot." Someone else wrote, "This should take Marchand out of the Winter Classic, right?" One more wrote, "Blatant elbow to the chin from Marchand to Matheson. Dumb, dumb play by the veteran. Habs to the power play."

There was a lot of that going around when Marchand took a run at Matheson and delivered what many thought would be a suspendable hit.

Marchand should be suspended for this shot to Matheson’s head. The head was the main point of contact and the contact was avoidable (Rule 48).

But he’ll just get fined. pic.twitter.com/Rc3qZblih5
— Eric Macramalla (@EricMacramalla) December 31, 2025

The reaction on Wednesday has changed, but not necessarily in a good way. After learning that Marchand will not be receiving any kind of hearing, the cries of injustice were even more prominent.

The news on Wednesday morning came from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman: "No hearing for Brad Marchand regarding OT roughing penalty on Mike Matheson. I admit I’m surprised, I thought there would be for the contact to the head." He tried to explain why he thought the NHL DoPS let it slide, but fans weren’t necessarily buying it.

"My suspicions on why it won’t be a suspension: *NHL felt it was a penalty on the ice, that’s it. *Marchand elbow low and tucked; Matheson low to ice."

Reactions after Elliotte Friedman update

Fans are having a field day with this.

Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette wrote, "George 'The Violent Gentleman' Parros didn’t have a problem with Brad Marchand’s intentional elbow to the head of #Habs Mike Matheson. Just a 'hockey play.'"

"How would one ever be surprised that we won’t punish a Florida Panther. If anything, Matheson should get suspended for putting his head in a place that could injure Marchand’s elbow."

"Can’t have him miss the Winter Classic. If this were in November, he’d be suspended. What a league."

"Surprised? We should be surprised when they call a penalty on them now. 4th time in less than 2 seasons a panthers player intentionally hit a player in the head with no suspension. First 3 were on Hagel alone."

"My suspicion. *NHL wasn’t going to suspend one of its most marketable names for their most marketable regular season event."

It has caught a lot of attention that this was Marchand, the Panthers, right around the Winter Classic and the thought that other factors are contributing to this decision. Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Marchand was the man of the hour. He arrived in a velvet jacket, a gift from Panthers assistant GM Gregory Campbell. He also received a golden hockey stick to commemorate his 1,000-point milestone.

One user wrote, "Honestly, that was clearly a suspendable play, and you know I’m not the kind of person who cries wolf every single time a Habs player is hit. Also, Marchand being suspended moments after he was celebrated for hitting 1000 points would be weirdly poetic and absolutely perfect."

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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