Sawyer Boulton has made his presence felt in the league with multiple suspensions and his willingness to use his physicality to create momentum. Will he be a concern when teams come to town for the playoffs?
London Knights forward Sawyer Boulton has now had two lengthy suspensions this season. The first one was against Soo captain Bryce McConnell-Barker, where he was suspended for 10 games. The second one is still labelled as "indefinite" by the league, on a play against Soo defenceman Matthew Virgilio.
Boulton is a name that players around the OHL now know and are aware of. He is not afraid to dominate with his physical presence, and sometimes he can go too far. He has injured players like McConnell-Barker in the past, and this may be a problem for teams facing the Knights during the playoffs.
If Boulton injures a player as significant as McConnell-Barker in the playoffs, the Soo would have a difficult time winning without him. For London, Boulton can be a significant asset in their playoff run for this reason.
This may be something other teams have to worry about. Boulton has the ability to impact a series in a short period of time with his physicality, and teams may start to watch who they put out on the ice against him.
Physicality ramps up during the playoffs, and Boulton definitely won't shy away.
Boulton has played just 32 games this season due to his suspensions, but he remains in London's bottom-six. He is not in the lineup for his offensive skill, but for his edge and physicality.
The results of Boulton's "indefinite" suspension of the actions on Matthew Virgilio are still unknown. The OHL will likely come out with a decision in the coming days.