BOSTON — There’s apparently nothing off-limits in a hockey verbal battle — even with the cameras running.
Bruins captain Brad Marchand chirped TNT’s Paul Bissonette about being the recent victim of a six-on-one assault in a battle of high-level trash talkers during TNT’s Pregame show before Boston hosted the Penguins on national TV.
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TNT had Marchand on for a pregame interview. Bissonette, a former NHL player who has rebranded himself as a popular irreverent podcaster and commentator after his career, is part of the TNT desk for pregame, postgame and between periods. He asked Marchand about the change in the Bruins’ play after the recent coaching change.
Marchand, who has a history of messing with national TV broadcasters in similar situations, teased Bissonette for asking a boring question.
After other members of the desk had asked questions, Bissonette took another turn and asked Marchand if “one of his offseason surgeries included a Turkish hair transplant?” and noted:
“You’re looking a little less thin up top. It looks great,” Bissonette said.
Marchand appeared to have saved his best potshot for just such a moment.
“I’m just trying to look like those guys who beat the wheels off you,” Marchand said.
Bissonette laughed and waved the white flag.
According to the Associated Press, Bissonette was assaulted at a steakhouse in Scottsdale, Arizona on Sunday.
In a video he posted to Twitter, Bissonette said he was trying to intervene when a man accosted the manager of the restaurant. He said members of that man’s group began throwing punches.
The AP reported that Scottsdale police arrested six men who are accused of assault and disorderly conduct.
