Even though he probably shouldn't have picked that fight, he had to. Boogard had taken a run at Chris Kunitz and somebody had to send a message that that kind of stuff isn't going to fly. Who else was going to do it? McDonald?

As for him not being able to play, he was interviewed last week sometime and was very careful to say, "If I'm able to come back..." when asked about the time frame for return.

You're not sending a message by getting your face pounded in...

Just the fact that he stood up to Boogard in the first place sends a message (at the very least to his own team).