Maple Leafs take issue with Zadorov’s hit on Laughton

Maple Leafs Concerned Over Zadorov’s Hit on Laughton

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Scott Laughton left Saturday night’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.”

Berube expressed uncertainty about the hit after the game and confirmed Laughton will miss the upcoming game against the Carolina Hurricanes, though the full extent of his absence is unknown.

Player Responses

Bobby McMann confronted Zadorov after the hit. He admitted, “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.”
John Tavares said, “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.”

Injury Context

Laughton, who had suffered a lower-body injury during training camp, had only just made his regular season debut on Wednesday before this incident.

Notable Moment

The hit by Zadorov was described as intense and impactful, drawing significant attention during the game.

Nikita Zadorov, my GOODNESS 😱
Zadorov with a HIT STICK on Scott Laughton 🥊

— Captured reaction from social media during the game

Summary

The Maple Leafs are concerned about Scott Laughton's injury after a tough hit by Nikita Zadorov, with teammates and coaches sharply criticizing the nature of the impact.

Author's Summary

This incident highlights the physical intensity of hockey and raises questions about player safety following a controversial hit on Laughton.

TSN — 2025-11-09