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The Maple Leafs get 12 for fighting this season.
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That’s the number of Leafs who have dropped the gloves to scrap in 2024-25, with forward Steven Lorentz adding his name to the list on Saturday night when he fought Sean Kuraly of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“We have some great grit on our team and that’s needed in the playoffs,” winger William Nylander said after scoring two goals in the Leafs’ 5-0 victory at Scotiabank Arena. “Guys have done a great job when they have fought. It gets the guys going and it shows that they’re ready to compete every night.”
Will the Leafs be looking to fight once the Stanley Cup playoffs start later this month? Not necessarily, but it’s clear that there has been a change in the team’s mentality.
“We needed pushback and it’s protecting your teammates and helping your teammates out in situations,” said Leafs coach Craig Berube, who made his name as a fighter in National Hockey League during his playing days. “Sometimes that might be where you have to drop your gloves and handle something. I think that mentality of being together and sticking together and helping each other out is part of the reason (for 12 different players picking up fighting majors).”
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The first NHL fight for Lorentz, in his 304th career game, came in the second period following a net-front battle with Jackets forward Sean Kuraly. The two had enough of each other as they jostled in the crease and went into fight mode, with the 6-foot-4, 216-pound Lorentz using his strength to his advantage.
Prior to the fight, Lorentz had taken just two minors this season.
“It’s huge,” goalie Anthony Stolarz said. “You want to see that up and down the lineup, especially from a guy like him, he’s a big boy, so he is just standing up for himself. Kudos to Stevie.”
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In the third, defenceman Simon Benoit, who doesn’t mind scrapping every so often, and Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier were assessed fighting majors, but it didn’t get to the point where either was throwing big punches.
No NHL team has had more than 12 different players fight this season.
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When the Leafs fight, is it situational or part of something bigger?
“Both,” defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “I don’t think you can pinpoint it — I think it’s situational and I think it’s a demeanour thing within the group.
“We care about one another. I think when the time comes, you want to look after your teammates and we have plenty of guys in here who are willing to do that. It’s not anything that’s planned or whatever. It’s just going out there playing together and playing hard.
“It was great (to see Lorentz fight). That was an example of how our group felt, even in the third period when there were a couple of plays where we had guys step in and step up and take care of one another. That’s a good sign. Stevie doing that almost got that started, and it’s a nice boost to our group to watch him do that.”
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