Maple Leafs Raise Concerns Over Zadorov’s Hit on Laughton
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Scott Laughton left Saturday evening’s game after a heavy hit from Boston Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov in the second period. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena.
Coach Craig Berube'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 Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, though the exact recovery timeline remains uncertain.
Player Reactions to the Hit
- Bobby McMann, a Leafs winger, confronted Zadorov, saying he "didn’t really love the hit" and wanted to ensure Zadorov knew that.
- Centre John Tavares commented, “I didn’t see it, to be honest, super clean. But don’t like anything high that’s for sure, and I know our bench didn’t like it. Not an easy thing by Bobby to get in there and step up for Laughty, so that was a hell of a job by him.”
Laughton’s Injury Status
Laughton had suffered a lower-body injury during training camp and had only returned for his regular season debut on Wednesday before the incident.
Nikita Zadorov, my GOODNESS 😱 Zadorov with a HIT STICK on Scott Laughton 🥊
Author’s summary: The Maple Leafs express serious concern over Nikita Zadorov’s controversial hit on Scott Laughton, which led to Laughton missing the next game and stirred strong reactions from players and coaches alike.