BREAKING: NHL on TNT has hilarious ‘suspension,’ then reinstatement of Brad Marchand after his Paul Bissonnette chirp

This was an excellent NHL Department of Player Safety parody from NHL on TNT.

While Inside the NBA often dominates the spotlight among TNT Sports’ programming, their other studio shows frequently deliver standout moments as well. One such example is NHL on TNT Face Off, which, over its four-season run, has consistently provided hilarious content and keeps pushing boundaries. A prime instance of this came on Wednesday.

The show created a mock NHL Department of Player Safety video to “suspend” Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand from their “Mr. TNT” award—a recognition given to the player or coach who best showcases personality on TNT broadcasts. This playful punishment stemmed from Marchand’s comments aimed at analyst Paul Bissonnette during a pre-game interview the previous week. In that exchange, Bissonnette teased Marchand about his hair, prompting Marchand to fire back with a reference to a serious past incident involving Bissonnette. The segment was introduced with a dramatic lead-in by host Liam McHugh and featured Bissonnette portraying “Peorge Garros,” a spoof of NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros, as the “Head of Broadcast Safety.”

Following the Bruins’ 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, Face Off humorously “reinstated” Marchand, bringing the bit full circle.

The segment stood out for its sharp parody of the NHL’s suspension analysis videos, Marchand’s humorous reactions, Bissonnette’s playful jab calling him an “angry elf,” and Bissonnette donning a neck brace for the panel. Memorable lines like “Under Rule 46.9, any player who continues to hurl personal attacks at an analyst who is already down bad will be assessed a full-year suspension on eligibility for the Mr. TNT Award” added to the comedy.

While the six-person assault on Bissonnette, referenced by Marchand, was a serious matter and probably inappropriate for on-air banter, Bissonnette handled it in stride, laughing and replying, “Yeah, I knew you looked a little familiar. You’re out of the running for Mr. TNT, buddy, you’re done.” The Face Off parody was a clever follow-up to that exchange.

It’s notable that an official NHL broadcaster would poke fun at such a serious aspect of the league, but it aligns with NHL on TNT’s lighthearted and irreverent tone, especially on Face Off. Over the past four seasons, the show has built a reputation for pushing boundaries and delivering creative, humorous content, which makes it a vital part of the NHL’s U.S. coverage. This segment was a brilliant example of that approach in action.