Maple Leafs Concerned Over Zadorov’s Hit on Laughton
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Scott Laughton was forced to leave Saturday night’s game after a heavy hit from Boston Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov during the second period. The Bruins won the match 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena.
Coach’s Reaction
“I thought it was a head shot. I gotta take a closer look at it,” said Bruins coach Craig Berube after the game.
Laughton will miss the Leafs’ next game against the Carolina Hurricanes, though Berube was uncertain about his recovery timeline beyond that.
Players’ Response to the Hit
Leafs winger Bobby McMann confronted Zadorov following the incident. McMann admitted he hadn’t clearly seen the entire hit but wanted to show disapproval.
“I didn’t really see the whole thing. Just caught it out of the corner of my eye. Didn’t really love the hit from what I saw and wanted to make sure he knew I didn’t like it.”
Centre John Tavares expressed his displeasure as well:
“I didn’t see it, to be honest, super clean. But don’t like anything high, that’s for sure. I know our bench didn’t like it. It’s not easy for Bobby to step up for Laughty, so that was a hell of a job by him.”
Background on Laughton
Laughton had recently returned to the lineup, making his regular season debut on Wednesday after recovering from a lower-body injury sustained during training camp.
Summary
The hit by Zadorov on Laughton has sparked concern and reactions from both teams, with Laughton's status now uncertain following the injury.
Author’s Note
This event highlights ongoing concerns about player safety, especially regarding high and potentially dangerous hits in professional hockey.