Maple Leafs Concerned Over Zadorov's Hit on Laughton
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Scott Laughton left Saturday's game after a strong hit from Boston Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov in the second period. The Bruins won the match 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena.
Coach Berube’s Reaction
“I thought it was a head shot. I gotta take a closer look at it.” – Craig Berube, Bruins coach
Berube expressed uncertainty about the severity of the hit and mentioned reviewing it further. Laughton will miss Sunday’s upcoming game against the Carolina Hurricanes, but the longer-term injury timeline remains unclear.
Player Responses
Bobby McMann confronted Zadorov immediately after the hit. McMann said, “I didn’t really see the whole thing... Didn’t really love the hit from what I saw and wanted to make sure he knew I didn’t like it.”
John Tavares added, “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. 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.”
Background on Laughton
Laughton, recovering from a lower-body injury sustained during training camp, had just returned to regular-season play on Wednesday before this incident.
Notable Moment
Nikita Zadorov delivered a powerful hit, described by fans and commentators as a “hit stick” move:
Nikita Zadorov, my GOODNESS 😱 Zadorov with a HIT STICK on Scott Laughton 🥊
Video clips of the hit circulated on social media shortly after the game.
Summary
The Leafs are clearly troubled by the hit on Laughton, highlighting concerns about its legality and the impact on their player’s availability.
Author's Summary
The Leafs are facing a challenge after Zadorov's controversial hit sidelined Laughton, raising questions about player safety and immediate team responses.