Canucks analyst John Garrett reportedly knocks Brad Marchand on-air, later denies claim

Ever since the 2011 Stanley Cup Final matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks, there has been some bad blood between the two franchises and their fans. Now it seems that even the announcers are pitching in.

According to NHL analyst Anson Carter, during Sunday night's matchup he heard one of the Canucks' game analysts say that he «hated Brad Marchand.» Carter then explained that Canadian hockey fans wonder why NHL players don't want to play in Canada. He claims it's not just about the game, but the fact it is always personal with the media.

Watching the @NHLBruins game and I heard the @Canucks game analyst say he «hated Brad Marchand» and Canadian hockey fans wonder why @nhl players don't want to play in Canada. It's because it's not just about the game. It's always personal with some of the media coverage there.— Anson Carter (@AnsonCarterLA) November 29, 2021

The Canucks' analyst that was accused of saying this was John Garrett, who denied the claim that he hated Brad Marchand. Garrett instead clarified that he did not say hate, but rather that he did not like the slew foot Marchand performed on Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He also ended his statement with some compliments of Marchand's game, saying that he plays much bigger than he is as well as being the best player on the ice.

I did not say hate. I did not like the slew foot and talked about how he plays much bigger than he is. He was the best player on the ice. I hope you watched our game.— john garrett (@SNJohnGarrett) November 29, 2021

The Canucks ended up losing the game 3-2, after Bruins star David Pastrnak scored the game winner late in the third period.