Photo credit: STEVEN ELLIS
Matthew Hlacar can’t seem to stay out of trouble as the Maple Leafs prospect has been suspended yet again, this time for four games after a Feb. 4 incident.
The Toronto Maple Leafs tried to get a little bit tougher and bigger this past NHL draft with their minimal picks and in doing so, managed to pick up Kitchener Rangers forward Matthew Hlacar in the seventh round.
Known for crushing hits and enjoying a scrap here and there, he’s already had his name in headlines after being suspended at the beginning of the season for a blindside hit on Soo Greyhounds defender Jakub Winkelhofer.
Maple Leafs prospect suspended again as questions about his future grow
Suspended six games for that, Hlacar once again found himself in hot water, it seems like Hlacar didn’t learn his lesson and decided to repeat history again, this time against London:
Hlacar took another chance to deliver a blindside hit and was ejected from the game for boarding, and the OHL decided to also hand out another ban — this time for four games.
Hlacar is not expected to really fight for an NHL job in the near future and his actions may lead the Maple Leafs to perhaps move on from someone who is known for getting in trouble.
Hlacar is going to learn the hard way if he doesn’t pull it together
There’s a difference between the ol’ Brian Burke ‘truculence’ and just being downright unaware and it looks like Hlacar still needs some time to figure out how to hit properly.
If he can’t mature his game now in the OHL, then when he tries to advance into the AHL and potentially beyond, it’s going to be a big culture shock when he tries the same thing and gets a receipt.
It feels like the game Hlacar plays is a long forgotten one, where brutal hits and intimidation played a huge factor. Without a more well balanced game, he has to rely on being mean and therefore running into issues like this.
Hlacar has eight points in 37 games while adding 85 PIM but will have missed 10 games now this season due to suspensions.
Previously on Hockey Patrol
POLL
1 HOUR AGO|44 ANSWERS
Maple Leafs prospect hit with a four-game suspension after Feb. 4 incident
Do you think Matthew Hlacar will ever make the NHL?