Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube made it clear Wednesday he does not agree with the department of player safety’s decision to give Bobby McMann a one-game suspension for high-sticking.
Berube appeared especially unhappy with the fact Tampa Bay Lightning forward Gage Goncalves received no supplemental discipline for kneeing Maple Leafs defenceman Dakota Mermis just seconds before McMann’s high-sticking call. Mermis was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
“It wasn’t much. I thought it was more him getting bumped. I know you gotta be in control of your stick but I don’t think it’s worth a suspension,” Berube said. “We lose a guy (Mermis) for probably a month at least, there’s nothing that I’ve heard.”
McMann was thrown out Toronto’s 2-0 win over the Lightning on Monday during a break in play in the third period. Reacting to a cross-check from Oliver Bjorkstrand, McMann swung his stick down towards the head of the Lightning winger.
His match penalty offset the five-minute major that Goncalves had just received.
Berube said post-game he didn’t agree with the McMann, but wanted to reserve further judgement until he’d seen the video of the incident.
“That is a tough one. It really is,” Berube said Monday. “I have to look at it more closely, which I didn’t. From our view on the bench, I couldn’t really see it too well. I’ll take a look at it, but I had a tough time with that, to be honest with you.”
McMann will miss Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks, while Henry Thrun appears poised to make his Maple Leafs debut, replacing Mermis on the blueline.
“Good chance” Henry Thrun makes his Leafs debut tomorrow night against his former team, per Craig Berube
Points out Thrun has been playing the right side with the Marlies
Paired with Simon Benoit today @TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 10, 2025
Defenceman Morgan Rielly missed the Maple Leafs practice on Wednesday, but is expected to play Thursday.
