The Montgomery explosion in Marchand raises concerns about possible consequences

An exchange between Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery and captain Brad Marchand has caused a stir, potentially indicating deeper tensions between the two and suggesting their long-term future could be compromised. On a recent episode of the “32 Thoughts Podcast,” NHL insider Elliotte Friedman and host Kyle Bukauskas discussed the incident and questioned whether Montgomery's violent reaction and physical contact with Marchand could lead to problems down the road.

During the game, Montgomery publicly insulted Marchand, which was one thing. However, when he made physical contact with the player (aggressive or not), Montgomery may have crossed a line that could turn ugly if Marchand or the Bruins want to do something more with it.

“You don’t see coaches yelling at players like that on the bench anymore,” Friedman noted. The aggressive nature of the exchange made Friedman wonder whether there were unresolved issues between the two behind the scenes or whether there was something specific about Marchand's actions that provoked such a strong reaction from Montgomery.

Even more concerning, however, was the physical contact between Montgomery and Marchand. Even though it seemed like a small push, the fact that it happened at all raised questions. “These days there can be no contact,” Friedman explained, emphasizing that even small, physical gestures between coach and player can be problematic. Bukauskas echoed these sentiments, noting: “There is a line that must not be crossed.”