Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube made it clear Wednesday he does not agree with the department of player safety\u2019s decision to give Bobby McMann a one-game suspension for high-sticking.<\/p>\n
Berube appeared especially unhappy with the fact Tampa Bay Lightning forward\u00a0Gage Goncalves<\/a>\u00a0received no supplemental discipline for kneeing Maple Leafs defenceman\u00a0Dakota Mermis<\/a>\u00a0just seconds before McMann\u2019s high-sticking call. Mermis was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t much. I thought it was more him getting bumped. I know you gotta be in control of your stick but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s worth a suspension,\u201d Berube said. \u201cWe lose a guy (Mermis) for probably a month at least, there\u2019s nothing that I\u2019ve heard.\u201d<\/p>\n McMann was thrown out Toronto\u2019s 2-0 win over the Lightning on Monday during a break in play in the third period. Reacting to a cross-check from\u00a0Oliver Bjorkstrand<\/a>, McMann\u00a0swung his stick down towards the head of the Lightning winger.<\/p>\n His match penalty offset the five-minute major that Goncalves had just received. <\/p>\n Berube said post-game he didn\u2019t agree with the McMann, but wanted to reserve further judgement until he\u2019d seen the video of the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a tough one. It really is,\u201d Berube said Monday. \u201cI have to look at it more closely, which I didn\u2019t. From our view on the bench, I couldn\u2019t really see it too well. I\u2019ll take a look at it, but I had a tough time with that, to be honest with you.\u201d<\/p>\n McMann will miss Thursday\u2019s game against the San Jose Sharks, while Henry Thrun appears poised to make his Maple Leafs debut, replacing Mermis on the blueline. <\/p>\n “Good chance” Henry Thrun makes his Leafs debut tomorrow night against his former team, per Craig Berube<\/p>\n Points out Thrun has been playing the right side with the Marlies <\/p>\n Paired with Simon Benoit today @TSN_Sports<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Defenceman Morgan Rielly missed the Maple Leafs practice on Wednesday, but is expected to play Thursday.<\/p>\n