Marchand: Crackdown on faceoff violations is 'an absolute joke'

The NHL's attempt to clean up the faceoff circle is pushing some buttons.

Early in the preseason, referees have been liberal with minor penalty calls for faceoff violations, ranging from failing to line up properly to playing the puck with a glove to slashing hands and sticks.

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand hasn't played in a preseason game yet, but he's already sure he isn't a fan.

"This faceoff rule is an absolute joke," Marchand said Tuesday, according to Ty Anderson of WEEI. "That’s how you ruin the game of hockey, by putting that in there. They’re gonna have to do something about that because we can’t play this year like that."

Four minor penalties were called in the opening half of a game between the Senators and Maple Leafs on Monday, causing quite a stir on social media.

Marchand believes the crackdown renders many of the skills and responsibilities associated with the center position rather moot.

"You’re also taking a lot of skill away from the centerman by limiting what they’re able to do," said Marchand, who plays alongside one of the best in Patrice Bergeron. "Being a centerman is a skill and guys make a really good living at it. You’re completely taking away the skill of that.

"We might as well start throwing D in there to take draws if this keeps up."

Zdeno Chara lining up for a draw would be quite a sight to behold.