Marchand laments being branded as a dirty player: 'I just can't seem to escape it'

In the midst of serving his sixth NHL suspension, Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand admits old habits die hard.

Marchand can return to the lineup Wednesday after sitting five games for elbowing New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson in the head, and he's hoping to shed the reputation of being a dirty player once and for all.

Easier said than done, however.

"I've tried for a while now to try and get away from that role and I just can't seem to escape it," Marchand said Monday, per NBC's Joe Haggerty on Monday. "I think obviously you look back on the last few years, I've turned into a decent player and it's tough to be branded with that name consistently.

"Honestly, it's from my own doing but it's tough to escape it a bit. Devil's advocate there, it's what I had to do to get in the league. So, I'll never say that I wouldn't go back and play the same way again coming into the league and it's what I had to do to earn a job."

Marchand has indeed developed into quite a skilled scorer, with 97 goals in 195 games since the beginning of 2015-16. He was on the brink of a 40-goal season in 2016-17, but had to settle for 39 after being suspended for the final two games after spearing Tampa Bay's Jake Dotchin.

Now would be a good time to walk that walk, as the Bruins sit fourth overall in the standings and can ill afford to lose one of their best players down the stretch for undisciplined behavior.