When Mathew Barzal called his absence from Thursday’s lineup against Carolina an “alarm clock issue,” the explanation was simple — and honest. He missed the morning team bus, a clear violation of Mathieu Darche’s punctuality rule. But the punishment — a healthy scratch for one of the franchise’s cornerstone players — felt more severe than the situation demanded.
Yes, culture matters. Both Darche and Patrick Roy have emphasized accountability since taking over, and consistency in discipline is key to credibility. But Barzal, by all accounts, is a model teammate, a leader in the locker room, and had never been late before.