Former NHL Enforcer Shares His Opinion On Ryan Reaves Response To Marchand

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Hunter Bowman
November 8, 2023 (2:16 PM)

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The luster of one of the Toronto Maple Leafs off-season signings is quickly fading in the eyes of the fanbase. After a dozen games into the season, it's becoming painfully clear that Ryan Reaves, when not dropping the gloves or throwing his body around, isn't making much of an impact.

At 36 years old, he's yet to register a point this season, sporting a concerning minus-eight rating. He's had a couple of fights, recorded twenty-two hits, and averages a mere 7 minutes and 38 seconds of ice time.

A pivotal moment that highlighted Reaves' inaction occurred when the Boston Bruins Brad Marchand unleashed a controversial hit on Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren, causing him to collide awkwardly with the boards, resulting in a significant injury. This presented a golden opportunity for Reaves to respond, but to the surprise of many, he and the rest of the Leafs remained passive.

Former NHL player Sean Avery, now a podcast host, didn't mince words when addressing Reaves' shortcomings as an NHL player:

"He's -8, we all know how bad he is, he can't shoot, and pass in the modern-day NHL, that's obvious."

"When was Ryan Reaves after the Brad Marchand incident?" Avery questioned. "He said he didn't get matched up with Brad Marchand. You're one of the worst players in the league. Of course, you're not going to get matched up against Marchand. You still need to find a way to make Marchand scared of you."

Perhaps it's time for Toronto's coach, Sheldon Keefe, to reconsider Reaves' role on the team. In their recent game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Reaves saw a season-low 4 minutes and 32 seconds of ice time. It may be worthwhile to explore the potential of players from the Marlies, like Bobby McMann or Alex Steeves, to offer more in a fourth-line role.

It's increasingly evident that Reaves doesn't need to be in the lineup every night, and the sooner this is realized, the better for the Maple Leafs.

Source: Bladeofsteel