Feb 26, 2019
Johansson: Feud with Marchand 'water under the bridge'
Newly acquired winger Marcus Johansson had some bad blood with Boston Bruins teammate Brad Marchand after the latter threw an elbow at the then-New Jersey Devils forward's head last year. But he says that's all in the past.
TSN.ca Staff
Newly acquired winger Marcus Johansson had some bad blood with Boston Bruins teammate Brad Marchand after the latter threw an elbow at the then-New Jersey Devils forward's head last year. But he says that's all in the past.
"That's water under the bridge," Johansson told reporters Tuesday, adding that his new teammate called him following news of the deal.
"I think that was a great gesture from him. It just shows that he’s a really good guy and proves what everybody has been saying about him.”" Johansson added.
The incident resulted in a five-game suspension for Marchand and sidelined Johansson for the final three months of the season.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said he and Johansson addressed the feud after the trade was completed on Monday.
"We were looking for somebody who would be excited to join our club. I think his quick line was 'I'd much rather be playing with Marchand than against him,'" Sweeney said.
Sweeney added that he expects Marchand to be proactive in welcoming Johansson into the team's locker room.
“I mean, in the moment, it’s not great, it’s not great for the player. March felt bad about it. He wasn’t trying to hurt a player. And he paid the price for that,” Sweeney said, per CBS Boston. “But hockey players are... I’ve seen a lot of tough guys have a beef and then go out and have a beer afterwards. So I think it’ll be perfectly fine and March will be the first one to welcome him aboard. That’s the teammate that he is.”
Johansson, who was acquired for a second- and a fourth-round pick on Monday, let loose on Marchand last March after two months off the ice.
"It was stupid," Johansson said at the time. "There's nothing else to say about it. There was no point in doing that. There was no hockey play whatsoever. It's sad to see there are still guys out there trying to hurt other guys. It's sad. It's stupid.
"I'm hoping it doesn't come to him ending someone else's career before it's enough. It's not why we play the game. There are obviously situations where you try to hit someone and make a hockey play and it goes wrong. Then there are plays like this that have nothing to do with hockey. It's sad to see. I guess I'm unfortunate to be on the receiving end of that."
In 48 games this season, Johansson has 12 goals and 27 points with a minus-15 rating. He could make his Bruins debut Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks.