Ryan Reaves has not worked out thus far with the Toronto Maple Leafs, though any Montreal Canadiens fan could tell you that and has similarly revelled in it.
I’m not exactly sure what Leafs GM Brad Treliving was thinking when he decided to sign Reaves to a three-year deal with an AAV of $1.35 million. Well, actually, I know exactly what he was thinking, but whatever it was hasn’t been there thus far.
It’s no secret why Reaves is in Toronto’s lineup night after night, with the Manitoba native having built a reputation as the NHL’s No. 1 heavyweight since making his debut in the 2010-11 season. After a stint as a fan-favourite in both Vegas and New York, Reaves had some intrigue as an impending UFA after a solid season with the Minnesota Wild.
Having finally made it past the first round for the first time in nearly two decades last season against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Leafs just seemed to rescind themselves to a Florida Panthers squad they, in all likelihood, could have beaten.
After setting the tone early on, playing a physical, fast-paced style, Florida suffocated the Leafs offence with Sergei Bobrovsky playing some of the best hockey of his career. Toronto couldn’t keep up offensively and lacked any real physicality of their own, with no one there to defend stars like Matthews and Mitch Marner when they were being beat up game after game.
Thus, the Leafs saw only one viable option as to how to improve this team and give them exactly what they need to win. Unfortunately for them, it happened to be the incorrect option, and Reaves hasn’t looked anything like a player anyone in the NHL needs to be scared of.