Toronto Maple Leafs
Starter
Ryan Reaves was phased out of Leafs’ lineup after underwhelming year, could this be the end?
Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/rya...fs-lineup-underwhelming-year-could-be-the-end
It’s been said that the era of the enforcer is over in the NHL. In a league that is getting bigger, faster, and more skilled every year, there is less room on a team for a one-dimensional player, with physicality expected now from all across the roster.
Playing in his second season with the Toronto Maple Leafs this year, Ryan Reaves is the latest casualty of this dying breed, as Reaves lost his roster spot this season. Ironically, this happened in the push to be more physical and aggressive under longtime NHL bruiser Craig Berube.
Reaves originally signed with Toronto on a three-year, $4.05 million contract on July 1st, 2023. The 38-year-old has one year remaining on that deal with a cap hit of $1.35 million, but has yet to say if he’ll be returning for another season.
How the year went
If this truly is the end of Reaves’ playing career, he’ll be going out with a whimper, after a disappointing year where he failed to make any notable impact.
The Winnipeg native registered only two points this season, both assists, as he was held without a goal in a season for the first time in his career. Reaves only appeared in 35 contests with the Leafs, averaging under eight minutes a game. With Toronto’s bottom six filling out, there was little room for Reaves on the fourth line, who was contributing almost nothing offensively. And while Toronto’s oldest player threw an impressive 103 hits despite playing less than half the year, he only took 10 in return, and blocked just eight shots.
In November, he was suspended five games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head on Edmonton Oilers’ defenceman Darnell Nurse. It was the fourth suspension of his career.
Most notably, Reaves was criticized for not living up to his reputation as an enforcer, as he didn’t fight through the first few months of the season. He later came up with a big tilt against Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period of a 5-1 loss for the Leafs.
Ahead of the trade deadline, Reaves was placed on waivers in order to free up cap space, in what felt like an inevitable move. After clearing waivers, the veteran skater joined the Marlies for three games, scoring one goal.
While it’s possible his playing days may be over, there’s still a bright future for Reaves, who was voted by his teammates as the Leaf who would make the best media personality after retirement, per a January survey from The Athletic. Reaves responded saying it’s something he has considered before:
While he hasn’t spoken about it since, that will be one thing to watch as Reaves mulls possibly hanging up his skates this summer.
Statistical profile
Category
Production
NHL Rank
Expected goals percentage
42.57%
628th
Goal differential
-3
677th
Corsi for
43.70%
629th
Expected goals for per 60
1.81652nd
Expected goals against per 60
2.44
391st
Individual expected goals
1.41
631st
Shooting percentage
0%
666th
All stats at 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick (min. 200 minutes)
Reaves is one player whose stats certainly speak for themselves, bottoming out in the league in most major offensive categories. Ultimately, this type of one-dimensional play doesn’t have much place on a Berube-led team moving forward, as the tough guy head coach expects physicality from his high-skilled players, and in return expects at least some offensive spark from even his fourth line guys.
Select highlights
Reaves fights Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier (January 22, 2025)
HOCKEY FIGHT OF THE YEAR?!
Heavyweight throw down between Ryan Reaves and Mathieu Olivierpic.twitter.com/B19Gh4FiJY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 23, 2025
In his AHL debut, Reaves stages his own protest against the AHL’s rules on mandatory visors (April 2, 2025)
Reaves scores with the Toronto Marlies for his first AHL goal in 15 years (April 5, 2025)
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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/rya...fs-lineup-underwhelming-year-could-be-the-end