There have been plenty of documented cases of teammates actually getting into a physical altercation following an intense battle at practice. In the case of Bunting and Simmonds, both players are used to playing on the edge and certainly don't mind the elevated competition level in practice. This much was evident when Bunting and Simmonds putting an arm around one another and sharing a stick tap as practice wrapped.
As far as Sheldon Keefe was concerned, that level of competition was welcomed. The bench boss appreciated the energy and commitment to grinding at practice. On the dust up between Scarborough, ON natives Simmer and Bunting, Keefe had this to say: