A network device can implement functionality to intelligently re-transmit a broadcast message or a multicast message in a communication network to minimize duplicate retransmissions in the communication network. In response to receiving a message for forwarding in the communication network, the network device can determine whether the message includes a first indicator in a predefined field. The first indicator may indicate that a central coordinator of the communication network has previously forwarded the message. The network device can re-transmit the message to another network device connected in the downstream path, if the message includes the first indicator. The network device can re-transmit the message to the central coordinator or an upper-level proxy network device via an upstream path of the communication network, if the message does not include the first indicator.