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Peter Chiarelli finds Alain Vigneault’s threatening comments about Brad Marchand ‘real unprofessional’ 01.09.12 at 12:48 pm ET
By DJ Bean

The Bruins are defending Brad Marchand. (AP)

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli held an impromptu session with reporters Monday at TD Garden to express his feelings on Canucks coach Alain Vigneault‘s comments Sunday about B’s forward Brad Marchand. The 23-year-old forward was given a game misconduct for his low-bridge hit on Vancouver defenseman Sami Salo.

“Marchand – and this is just my feeling – but some day he’s going to get it,” Vigneault told reporters Sunday. “Some day, someone’s going to say ‘enough is enough’ and they’re going to hurt the kid because he plays to hurt players. And if the league doesn’t care, somebody else will.”

Chiarelli said he found Vigneault’s comments to be threatening.

“I think we’ve learned our lesson over time that that’s a real inappropriate comment,” he said. “That’s a real inappropriate comment, and it’s an unprofessional comment.”

Former Canucks winger Brad May infamously said Avalanche forward Steve Moore had a “bounty” on his head following Moore’s blindside hit on Markus Naslund in 2004. Later that season, teammate Todd Bertuzzi ended Moore’s career with his vicious punch to the back of Moore’s head.

Canucks GM Mike Gillis also called Marchand a “dirty player.” Chiarelli took issue with all the comments to emerge from Vancouver, noting that Canucks defenseman Keith Ballard is “notorious” for such hits.

“Brad does play on the edge, but he’s no dirtier than maybe two or three of their players,” Chiarelli said. “I think in general, after a game like that you see all the high-handed propaganda. I just feel the need to respond. Whether it’s from coaches, GMs or players, I don’t like to hear that kind of stuff.”

On the subject of Ballard, Chiarelli referenced multiple low-bridge hits committed by the defenseman.

“With respect to some of the comments made from a player regarding what’s a hip check and what’s clipping and all that stuff, I think that’s naive, too. What’s makes a difference if you have the puck or if you don’t on a hip check? What’s the difference? To say that there’s a distinction, there’s not. It’s like a reverse check,” Chiarelli said. “And that player actually, he’s notorious for that stuff, with or without the puck.”

Read More: Alain Vigneault, Brad Marchand, Peter Chiarelli, Steve Moore Print  |  Email   | Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Seahawk

    Difference is Ballard is not trying to put the other player out of a career. Marchand is careless and a pitiful creature who needs to have his clock rung, maybe by an accidental midice runin with going Looch.

  • Hurt Marchand

    .and the other difference is that Marchand, by his own admission, was ducking to avoid getting hit.  In other words, afraid to take the hit.   In other words, the little rat is also a coward.

  • Cooper

    That little “rat” also has a stanley cup.  Stop making excuses

  • Murphrw61

    Any player in the NHL, if given the chance will usually try to avoid a check vs. being taken out of the play. That only makes sense and not make one a coward!

  • oldgardendays

    Vigneault is a chump. Read what ‘guest’ has to say about him in the “Kevin Bieska calls out stupid Bruins” article. Enough said.

  • Geetsolboy

    I’d pay to watch Julien or Chiarelli hand out some justice on Vigneault.

  • A hockey player.

    Marchand is a little rat and he has no respect for anyone.

  • Oltimemusic

    you must be a montreal fan…..your mini players and emelin play tackle hockey constantly

  • Dano50

    The ONLY difference is Ballard is obviously YOUR guy.  You clowns are a disgrace.

  • Dano50

    No one has respect for a creep like you.

  • Dano50

    Marchand must have dope slapped you eh?

  • Semperfi24

    And where did you get the authority to know what each player is thinking before making a play?  I dont think either one of them is ducking under a check because there is intent to injure.  I just cant explain how someone can look at 2 identical plays and say one player is justified because he isnt trying to injure, but the other player is wrong because he was trying to injure.  Im not trying to be a wise azz, but how could anyone other than Marchand know what Marchand’s intentions were?  Also, how could anyone other than Ballard know what Ballard’s intentions were?  When you are driving down the street, do you know what the intentions are of other drivers?  Are you going to say one drunk driver is ok because he didnt intend to injure anyone, but another drunk driver is a terrible person because he did intend to injure someone?  You are making yourself look like an idiot.  If you want to say the play is dirty, say its dirty.  If you think its clean, say its clean, but dont say its clean when “my team” does it and dirty when “your team” does it

  • Brad’s Lawyer

    No.  BUT, if Marchand gets injured now AFTER Vigneault’s comments, there IS intent…

  • Bagoon

    wow- bunch of dirty clowns on here- avoiding being illegally hit makes Marchand a coward, but intentionally trying to end someones career is okay?- what a bunch of jack wagons- look at the replay people, it was not even close to this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHmSiIsz74I 

    you tell me which hit looks dirty

  • Smr36

    seahawk your a moron

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