Marchand stirs up controversy with comments about his injury.

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand has never been a stranger to controversy throughout the various stages of his National Hockey League career, but usually when he stirs up controversy he is doing so while on the ice.

This time around Marchand has kicked up a controversy of a different kind after comments about his status during the second round Stanley Cup playoff series between the Bruins and Florida Panthers have raised concerns about the safety and well being of players in the NHL.

Following the conclusion of Game 6, Marchand fielded a variety of questions about the injury he suffered at the hands of Panthers forward Sam Bennett, with Marchand refusing to chastise Bennett for what was very clearly a sucker punch on the part of the Panthers forward.

"I think he got away with a shot but I'm not going to complain, sh** happens," said Marchand after Game 6.

A pretty classy response from Marchand all things considered, but where Marchand got himself into trouble were his comments about dealing with team doctors. Marchand admitted to reporters that he wasn't up front about just how seriously he had been injured by the blow to the head from Bennett.

"I definitely pushed it getting back. Wouldn't say I was upfront about how I felt," admitted Marchand.

Those comments produced two very different reaction with some praising Marchand for trying to push through an injury in an effort to get back out on the ice with his teammates, while it raised concerns for others who found Marchand's lack of honesty with team doctors disturbing.

According to Marchand though, injuries are a part of playoffs as players are always seeking to hurt one another at this time of year.

"That's part of playoff hockey.... that's part of the game," said Marchand. "People don't want to say it but part of the playoffs is trying to hurt every player on the other team. The more guys you rake out the more advantage your team has... every time you step on the ice someone is trying to hurt someone."

In spite of the fact that Marchand has once again ruffled a few feathers, I don't expect that the backlash will result in any meaningful change to the way he approaches the game at this stage of his career.