The Boston Bruins’ Stanley Cup hopes were dealt a massive blow, and fans aren’t just worried—they’re angry about how it happened. Brad Marchand suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday’s game against the Penguins, and the fallout is already being felt in Boston. But the worst part? The NHL referees got the call wrong, many say, and one of the league’s most dominant players was left vulnerable to injury.

The hit, delivered by P.O. Joseph, wasn’t referred to as a major penalty, and that’s what has people outraged. Bruins analyst Andy Brickley wasn’t afraid to speak his mind about the play during a live interview on The Hockey Hub:

“I think the referees, 100% of the time, have to use the tools available to them, even if they think there was no way that was a major penalty.”

Brad Marchand appeared to lose an edge just before the collision, but slow-motion replays show Joseph’s stick may have been the culprit, so it was at least worthy of a minor penalty. No call was made, however, and now Boston is without its captain at the most critical time of the year.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Bruins now have an enormous decision to make—can they afford to proceed without their biggest leader on the ice?

The play that sparked controversy

Brickley’s discontent reflected that of many Bruins fans. Having seen it live, the hit did not necessarily look dirty initially, but after replay, it was clear that Brad Marchand was in a vulnerable position before Joseph finished his check.

“When I saw it in real-time, it didn’t look like someone lining him up and driving through his numbers with a cross-check,” Brickley said. “But when you look at how he went into the boards—his head, his upper body—he was in a bad spot.”

One of the biggest concerns was whether Joseph’s stick came under Marchand’s skate, causing him to lose an edge before impact. If that were the case, a trip call or even boarding would have been in order, but the officials did not call.

Brad Marchand did not return for the rest of the game, and Boston was deprived of its most crucial leader at the most critical time of the year.

The Bruins were already dealing with a number of key injuries, and losing Marchand made their situation that much worse. Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Trent Frederic are already out, so that leaves an enormous hole in Boston’s lineup as they fight for a playoff spot.

The Bruins are in a tough situation as they deal with Brad Marchand’s unknown status following his injury. Head coach Joe Sacco did not provide any updates after the game, and this dilemma comes at the worst possible time—with the trade deadline approaching on March 8, the team faces a significant decision. Marchand, who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, has already been at the center of trade speculation. However, this injury may compel the Bruins to reconsider their strategy regarding him.

What does this mean for the trade deadline?

The Bruins have now lost six of their last seven games, and their hold on a playoff spot is starting to loosen. With Marchand’s health in question, does Boston double down and attempt to make a move to replace his production, or do they take a step back and retool for next year?

There are already rumors that Boston is shopping defenseman Brandon Carlo, with the Calgary Flames showing interest. If the Bruins decide to switch gears and sell rather than buy, this would start a major roster shake-up.

With Brad Marchand remaining the heartbeat of this club, moving forward without him could jeopardize their playoff chances. The NHL officiating crew had the opportunity to review the hit to ensure the correct decision was made, but they failed to do so. The Bruins have lost their captain during the most critical time of the year due to a play that may have warranted a penalty that went uncalled.

With the trade deadline just days away, the Bruins face one of their most challenging decisions in recent history. Should they go all-in despite the injuries, or should they prepare for life without their longtime captain?

Either way, Boston’s season just got a lot more complicated—and the officials didn’t do them any favors.