Rangers' Artemi Panarin says he threw glove after Bruins' Brad Marchand made Russia remark
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. - The clip that made its way around the internet and various highlight reels Friday night featured Rangers star Artemi Panarin hurling his glove at Bruins instigator Brad Marchand.
It quickly turned into a GIF that drew countless laughs, with Panarin seeing the humor in it, too. But as the 30-year-old forward explained following Saturday's practice at the MSG Training Center, the incident stemmed from Marchand getting personal and taking his trash talking too far.
"I didn’t really understand what he said in the moment because we had a little conversation with bad energy," Panarin said. "Then I hear something about Russia in that moment, and then with that energy, that can’t be something good about Russia. So, that's why I lose my mind and then I did what I did."
A person close to the situation told lohud.com, part of the Paste BN Network, that Marchand touched a nerve with Panarin by evoking unfounded assault allegations made against him by former KHL coach Andrei Nazarov in February. He was accused of beating a young woman in 2011, but the accusations have been widely dispelled and were believed to be politically motivated.
Panarin took a nine-game leave of absence to ensure the safety of his remaining family in Russia, which has made it a delicate subject. During training camp in September, he reiterated his preference not to discuss it.
The person said that Marchand brought up Russian president Vladimir Putin, whom Panarin has been openly critical of in the past, and taunted Panarin by saying, "Nobody in your country likes you."
Panarin reacted by throwing his glove at Marchand from the bench and motioning for him to come at him, which resulted in a $5,000 fine by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Marchand was not fined, which Panarin said was "not (an) honest" decision from the league.
"I just can’t control myself after those words," he said. "It’s important to think that I didn’t start it. I didn’t say good things about him, too, but I think when you touch country, it’s different. Probably all Russians would want to defend their country."
Marchand is one of the NHL's best players, but he's also known as a pest. He pushes and prods to elicit a reaction from opponents, which has drawn the ire of the Rangers a few times in recent years.
"I don’t like him for a long time," Panarin said. "A lot of people don’t like him."
Panarin, who's tied with Adam Fox for the team lead with 21 points this season, admitted that he's guilty of talking smack to opponents on occasion. But he said he keeps the focus on individual play, expressing his belief that personal attacks cross the line and reflect poorly on the game.
"In the NHL, lots of people say bad words sometimes," he said. "(But) how do we want to be as humans? For kids and everybody, we have to be good examples. Because, as athletes, lots of kids watch us. In the last five, 10 years, trash talk is pretty popular. … But I think a balance is important."
While he had a serious message he wanted to get across, Panarin was mostly lighthearted while discussing the incident. He even joked about the insignificance of the fine given his annual salary.
"I lost 5K, but thanks to the old general manager (Jeff Gorton) for $11.6 (million)," he said with a smile. "I’m good."
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the Paste BN Network. Follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.