Just days after being named captain of the Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand found himself in the spotlight.
A captain is expected not only to defend his teammates but also to set the bar for professionalism and sportsmanship, especially for younger players trying to find their footing in the NHL.
Regrettably, during last night's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Marchand seemed to miss that memo.
A now-viral moment captures Marchand giving a forceful strike with his stick to Joel Farabee's back.
Marchand's Aggressive Stick Hit on Farabee Sparks Controversy
As the footage shows, there had been some back-and-forth between Marchand and Farabee leading up to that point.
Such an aggressive move is unsavory, regardless of whether it's in a regular-season or preseason game. It remains to be seen if the NHL will impose penalties on Marchand. If they do, he could potentially miss his inaugural match as team captain, a heavy price for a lapse in judgment.
The incident instantly polarized fans:
Do you think the Bruins should have named someone else as captain?