Here's what Brad Marchand said to Artemi Panarin
After the game, Marchand claimed it was just harmless banter between the two NHL stars, but an NHL insider has a different version of events. A source told New York Islanders insider Arthur Staple that comments about Panarin's native Russia prompted him to throw the glove.
From Staple:
According to a source, Marchand made some Russian-centric comments toward Panarin � along the lines of «no one likes you there» while bringing up Russian President Vladimir Putin, of whom Panarin has been critical in the past. Panarin clearly had enough. Those don't seem like fine-worthy comments, but they might not sit well with the league.
I have to agree with Staple here that I don't think the comments cross the line into a fine. The comments are about Russia, but they aren't xenophobic in any way and are instead personal in nature.
This hit was also very frustrating.
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