An exchange between Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery and captain Brad Marchand during the playoffs raised eyebrows, potentially signaling deeper tensions between the two and hinting that their long-term futures could be affected. In a recent episode of 32 Thoughts PodcastNHL insider Elliotte Friedman and host Kyle Bukauskas began a discussion about the incident, wondering if Montgomery’s heated reaction and physical contact with Marchand could lead to long-term problems.

During the game, Montgomery publicly attacked 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 get ugly, if Marchand or the Bruins want to make it into something more.

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

Again, the physical contact between Montgomery and Marchand was even more concerning. Although it seemed like a minor boost, the fact that it happened raised questions. “These days, there’s not supposed to be any contact,” Friedman said, noting that even small physical gestures between a coach and player can be problematic. Bukauskas echoed these sentiments, noting: “There is this line that cannot be crossed. »