Pre-season games tend to be a bit undramatic, but that wasn’t the case when the Toronto Maple Leafs played their third exhibition game of the pre-season on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. After being given a rest in the second game, William Nylander was back in the line-up, but already in the first period, he was forced out of the game.
Nylander was skating back towards his own zone doing some forechecking when his teammate suddenly pushed him. Nick Robertson tried to give Nylander a boost by shoving him in the back with his stick, but it didn’t go as planned. Instead of getting increased skating speed, Nylander lost balance and fell to the ice, causing him to collide head-first with a Canadiens player.
Nylander went straight to the locker room and didn’t return to the game, with the Maple Leafs claiming it was just precautionary. Although Nylander seemed okay after the collision, many reacted with anger over how Robertson acted. Fans were harsch on social media, and analyst Nick Kypreos called it ’dumb’ and a ’bush move.’
READ MORE: William Nylander injured by teammate in Toronto Maple Leafs game
But now, Paul Bissonnette, an analyst for TNT and co-host of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, comes to Robertson’s defense. On X, Bissonnette instead shared his unexpected take on the incident, claiming that what Robertson did was nothing out of the ordinary.
”I don’t want to hear it. This is what guys do to get the little extra boost on the back check. Just a fluke. Robertson concerned right away feeling terrible. Get well soon Willy,” he said.
READ MORE: William Nylander’s pre-season injury leaves NHL analyst furious
Bissonnette later admitted that it was a ’dumb push,’ but that all he really did was try to help a teammate out.
”Dumb push. He’s trying to give Willy a boost even after the rush isn’t a threat. He’s trying to help a teammate. Learning mistake for a guy trying to make an impression early. S—t sandwich result.”
But the responses weren’t in Biz’s favor. Not many agreed with him on the take.
”I’m lost for words biz. Hard to defend this in hockey,” one said.
”That was a boost Nylander clearly wasn’t ready for. Move on,” another said.
”He should feel terrible because it was absolutely unnecessary and caused one of their best players to get hurt,” a third added.
