No.

It'd be the first time someone like simmonds actually protected a star player.
You should ask marc savard about it, or doug Gilmore

Matthews is massive. Shouldn’t need smaller players to protect him 😂

gretzky wasnt small and was protected his whole career, every team has a goon to handle fights and to look out for his players, no matter the size, its part of the sport and culture and always will be. also size doesnt = toughness

and the tooth fairy is part of life and culture and always will be too

Gretzky was 6’ and 185lbs.. that’s Uber skinny. AM34 has 35lbs on him and is 6’3. Average height in the NHL is 6’1. Gretzky below average on height and very small in weight. AM above average on both. If you’re talking protect marner/Gaudreau/Caufield/Panarin/etc then sure. Guys like AM don’t need protection from small nhl players and if he does, those other players who aren’t actually big or enforcers aren’t going to do the job. Call the Habs for Wifi

you think small players are the ones taking run at matthews?

Matthews is a big boy and doesn't get pushed around which is why he doesn't need an enforcer. Wayne Gretzky 6' 185lbs and Matthews is 6'3" 220lbs Gretzky is pretty small compaired to Matthews. The game today is far less physical than it was in Gretzky's era. There is no need for an enforcer to protect star player in todays game.

Still missing the point. The leafs don’t have someone to actually protect him. You need a Reaves. Trouba will hands down take a run at him and anyone else in the league. Leafs don’t have a player that would make him think otherwise. But ya, a few of the bigger players will take runs at him when the opportunity presents itself. That being said there’s no player that you could acquire that would make him 💯 safe.

*THIS* 👆🏼

But again, if your plans are having someone to respond to or be a deterrent… you need to trade for one.

No need to protect Matthews if Simmons was on the line....Matthews and his line mates just wouldn't be good enough to worry about.
But what's your solution even if Matthews is being man handled? Simmons to take penalty ever time he is on the ice.
I still say if you think your stars or even your smaller players are being unfairly treated, go after the the other teams stars. For example, don't worry about Simmons going after Reaves, have Simmons go after Panarin. (just an example).

This just got personal 😂😂

Also, deterrents dont exist. You can buy various flavours of revenge, but if someone is gonna mess with your star, no one is gonna stop em

Well not 💯. But since Reaves came over we have had very little Wilson hits let alone his typical out of control charges and behaviour. Could he still take a run at someone, yes, but he has been noticeably quiet against NYR since

that's more so because Wilson doesnt do it all the time and he has no specific target. He'll do it again at some point this season when his diaper rash gets bad enough and it wont matter who is on the ice when it does.

And if/when he does, he will at least know it’s going to end poorly. Not like 2 years ago. But yes, again, he might still do it.

I can at least appreciate the desire for revenge, especially against a serial danger like Wilson

I personally don’t care if we get “revenge”. Just glad when we have a healthy roster there’s more than enough power to respond whether it’s dropping gloves or heavy hits to their stars. Last season I was expecting some fireworks but it was mostly just hockey

I just haven't seen any Leaf being "manhandled" so I don't know what the issue is. Yesterday, Robertson and Holl got rocked by two heavy legal body checks. They got up right away, never seemed to bother them at all.
Last season against the Jets, Pionk kneed Sandin and injured him, a careless but probably a dirty play. Who responded for the Leafs....the mild mannered Jason Spezza. Poink was checked and when down, Spezza with flying elbow concussed him. See you really don't need a goon. Players have elbows and sticks if they want retribution. I just wish players who feel "offended" would take matters into their own hands
Gordie Howe who took no prisoners was once asked. "What was the longest time period you waited to "get even" with an opponent? ? Remember this was back in the day where teams played each other 14 games a year.
Gordie replied replied, "Six"
Reporter, "Six? Six games?"
Gordie, "No, six years."

hmmm yesterday showed why you need enforcers, jamie benn also hurted matthews so yea, there is a need for fighters, it will always be a thing. matthews is 208 pounds by the way.

for the leafs, since they dont believe in having a physical team youd have to go for one of the strongest heavy weights in the league, macdermid, wilson,reaves. thats the only way this team stops getting bullied imo.

Before the salary cap the NHL was a lot different your 1st and 2nd line were the skilled players and then the 3rd and 4th were hard workers. So you had room for an enforcer or 2. Since the salary cap you have to have players on elcs to have a good team and stay under the cap. Then you add that to the league making the game less physical (to protect the players) and you really have no need or room for an enforcer todays NHL. Who do you consider an enforcer or a deterrent in todays NHL?

Not anymore at least.

I guess the only argument is, if it’s a clean hit and leads to injury does it need retribution? Where having an enforcer, heavy hitter on the team might make people be cautious of who/how they hit.

never did, Bobby Orr got his knees destroyed despite being on the ice with guys like Shack, Cashman and O'Rielly. Bossy's back was beaten to dust with guys like Gillies on the ice with him, and not even Wendel Clark could stop guys from running Dougie all the time.