Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Bobby McMann will miss Thursday’s game due to a suspension. The NHL’s Office of Player Safety issued McMann a one-game suspension on Monday for his actions against Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand. As part of the penalty, McMann must forfeit $7,031.25 of his salary, which will go to the Player Emergency Relief Fund.
The suspension followed a game penalty McMann received with 17 minutes remaining in regulation. The NHL rulebook states that game penalties are given to players who deliberately try to injure or injure an opponent, resulting in an automatic suspension until the league reviews the incident. According to the NHL Player Safety video, McMann raised his stick to move it away but then, after being pushed by Bjorkstrand, swung it down and hit Bjorkstrand in the head with enough force to warrant further punishment.
At 29 years old, McMann is fully responsible for controlling his stick and body during play and must demonstrate greater control to avoid injuring opponents. Leafs coach Craig Berube admitted after the game that he should have reviewed the incident more closely but did not. Bjorkstrand returned to play shortly after the incident and participated in the team’s next game against the Montreal Canadiens.
This is McMann’s first disciplinary action in his 169-game NHL career. He has accumulated 43 goals and 73 points, along with three points in 13 playoff games. This season, McMann has scored eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 29 games. He will have to wait to play his 30th game until after Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. Currently, the Leafs rank 18th in the NHL with 32 points, while the Sharks have 31 points.
Fan Take: This suspension highlights the league’s commitment to player safety, an essential aspect as physicality remains a key part of hockey. For fans, it serves as a reminder that players must balance aggression with control to keep the game both thrilling and safe.
