Hyman in new territory after NHL suspension
Leafs forward prepared to move on from two-game suspension for hit on McAvoy
Zach Hyman is rarely called to the main stage of the Leafs dressing room, the backdrop with the club logo usually reserved for the multimedia requests of stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner or coach Mike Babcock. It’s because he’d never been called on the NHL carpet before being assessed a two-game suspension for Saturday’s late hit on Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy, deemed “predatory” by player safety director George Parros. It was the last place Hyman wanted to be standing Monday as his teammates prepared for games in Carolina Tuesday and a vital first-place Eastern Conference tussle Thursday in Tampa. Whether he thought he was sentenced unfairly for a first offence or other factors in the chippy contest should’ve been considered, Hyman was in no mood to rehash how Sunday’s hearing unfolded.
“The play is out there, everybody can interpret it the way they want,” Hyman said. “First time I’ve went through that process. Hopefully I never have to again. That’s what it is. I’m just getting ready for Saturday (to return against Florida).” In Parros’s video message, he noted how long after McAvoy moved the puck to the left that Hyman skated into him from the right. It seemed strange to hear the word “predatory” associated with a player respected throughout the league for his puck pursuit — never missing a game in the last three years — and blue-collar work ethic on behalf of linemates John Tavares and Marner, but Hyman was trying not to be drawn into public comments he might regret. “Listen, everyone is trying to do their job. I’m trying to do mine, George is trying to do his,” Hyman said.
Hyman, whose off-ice pursuits include writing children’s books, was adamant this incident won’t change his style. “I play hard. I play the way I play, going out there and doing my job,” he said. Babcock had a little more latitude for opinion, but also was measured in his response to the suspension. “Obviously disappointed,” he said. “Zach’s an important player for us. It was a game that could’ve got under control real easy — just put up your hand, blow the whistle and you get that looked after. It wasn’t like that.
“He finished his check. According to the league, it was late. In the end, we move on.” Nazem Kadri, who was in one of three fights in the 6-3 loss that preceded Hyman’s hit and subsequent attempted payback by the Bruins’ Chris Wagner on Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly, has served a few suspensions and was at least glad Hyman’s clean rap sheet mitigated the length. “Hymie plays a pretty honest game,” Kadri said. “I’m sure he realizes he made a mistake. “We’re the type of team that will push back. We won’t go beat up every single person on the ice, but we’re definitely going to show that bite back. We’ve done a good job showing we won’t be pushed around, no matter how hard you try, road or at home. It’s about sticking up for one another and I think we have the quality guys in the room to do that. “You don’t want that (soft) reputation. That’s kind of offensive to most teams, I’d say. You don’t need the physicality, you don’t need the line brawls, but you need a little push back when somebody hits you.”
Short term, the Leafs are going to move Connor Brown from fourth-line right wing to the left side with Tavares and Marner, keep Matthews with Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen and continue letting William Nylander find his game with centre Kadri and Patrick Marleau. Brown’s old spot will be taken by Tyler Ennis, while Frederik Gauthier has been activated to play between Ennis and Par Lindholm.