Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign F Ryan Reaves (3 years, $1.3M AAV)

[BrannigansLaw]

Hopefully he’ll punch a few of his teammates if they don’t show up.

That would make this signing much more tolerable and understandable. He can punch Mitch, Auston, and Tavares in the face every game they no show in the playoffs

 

[kevsh]

Can't get too upset about such a minor AAV deal, but utterly pointless beyond blasting a huge siren to the Leafs roster and the rest of the league that his stars are so soft they need a protector.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

Can't get too upset about such a minor AAV deal, but utterly pointless beyond blasting a huge siren to the Leafs roster and the rest of the league that his stars are so soft they need a protector.

Its too long

 

[Da Cool Rula]

It's not just about the team we have , it's about what's being done to make it better or take the next step or fix the flaws it has. There's zero optimism that any of that is being taken seriously. Thanks for reading bud.

This team, sports, is all about money now....

WILD THINGS: But will Minnesota teammates John Klingberg and Ryan Reaves make Leafs' heart sing as free-agent signings?

The first day of free agent shopping for new Leaf GM Brad Treliving is going to be a busy one as the market opens.

torontosun.com

There’s no doubt Winnipeg native Ryan Reaves will enliven the Leafs’ room and have their backs on the ice. The 36-year-old enforcer certainly fulfills a fourth-line need in terms of an everyday policeman, especially with Schenn not returning and with the little-used Wayne Simmonds not coming back.

But Reaves is a few years older than Simmonds, and has the eighth-highest penalty minutes of active NHLers, 1,023 in 828 games, though the lowest point total of that group at 129. Corey Perry, now with Chicago, Simmonds and Washington’s Tom Wilson are the three most penalized.

Early criticism of the deal on some social media platforms didn’t faze the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Reaves.

“Maybe I’ll go beat somebody up and all the pressure’s over,” Reaves joked on TSN. “Anybody in a different sweater is (on) that list."

“(Leafs) obviously have a lot of skill but not a lot of grit up front. They’ve had a lot of guys who’ve come and gone the last couple of years who maybe it just didn’t work."

“For a deep playoff run you need grit throughout the lineup, you just can’t have one guy. You need a couple up and down the lineup who can run around, intimidate the D and add that intensity to the series.”

Toronto has struggled in that area, losing so many series up to beating Tampa Bay, before losing to Florida.

“It’s not about the fighting in the playoffs for sure,” Reaves said. “It usually completely leaves. It’s more about the seven-day grind of running D into the boards, getting in people’s faces and letting them know every time they go back for that puck, no matter who is on the ice, you have a chance to get run. That can wear on you."

“I’m so excited, it’s an Original Six team that is trying to get over the hump. There’s a lot of firepower and I’m just looking to add a little swagger and a little grit."

What the hell. 4th line.....Simmonds, Reeves & Kampf?

 

[Niagara Bill]

That's how MLSE and Shanahan framed it for guys like you to eat up, and accept the nepotism yes man hire.

Guys like me! You a?? Dubas had a job with Pitt long before his contract ran out. Pitt fired everyone except the dishwasher weeks before. He screwed around changed his tune once his deal with Pitt was done. He loves his family, they need to take time to consider, the long hours and travel,,,all that bs. Dubas is Judas...plain and simple. Thank goodness he is gone, and you can follow him to Pitt, PLEASE...bring some joy to Leafland!

 

[thinkblue]

 

[leafers]

It’s Burke bs all over again.

 

[BRobMint]

Flames fan here. One of Brad’s biggest weaknesses has always been his FA signings. From Neal, to Brouwer, to Rooney. He loves to spend money on veterans once July 1st hits. Hopefully Reaves is good for y’all but signing a 36 year old goon to a 3 year deal is definitely strange. Guess Brad figured y’all got pushed around too much against Florida and needed some grit to help out the stars

 

[Marmoset]

It’s Burke bs all over again.

I believe there is something to that sentiment and it has a been a constant problem for the Leafs.

However, I believe the leadership and "character" mainly has to come from players that contribute. When it comes from a mid-to-late-30s veteran who is barely able to play in the NHL, I can see a natural tendency for the words to be tuned out.

We've had Thornton, Marleau, Simmonds, Spezza, Giordano. All near the end and just hanging on. No matter how great they were, how much influence can they truly have if they are not able to make a difference on the ice with their own play? We need someone who is at least a middle-6 or middle-pairing player to be the leader and character, not another fourth liner who will likely be a part-time player soon.

 

[socko]

Reaves will play less than 10 minutes per game. I think the age concern is pretty dumb. He's not playing 22 minutes like McDavid. If he's healthy, he'll be fine for his role on the team. A 39 year old Reaves can still beat your face in.

 

[Advanced stats]

Very curious how Treliving knows the noise level in our dressing room.

 

[Menzinger]

Very curious how Treliving knows the noise level in our dressing room.

I'd imagine Keefe has part to do with it.

I'm pretty sure he was complimentary of Reeves this past season too ...

 

[thethirdhockeyman91]

Leafs will put Reaves on waiver by March I guarantee it.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Maple Leafs lose valuable pieces but add Reaves, Klingberg in free agency

The hole punched into the Maple Leafs' roster to open free agency might as well have been left by Ryan Reaves' fist as Toronto added the fourth-line banger plus offensive defenceman John Klingberg but lost valuable members of the supporting cast.

www.sportsnet.ca

It’s no secret Treliving wants to add grit and competitiveness to Toronto’s lineup.

The GM has been eyeing Reaves since his Calgary days.

“There’s a presence to Ryan," Treliving told reporters at Ford Performance Centre. "It’s not about fighting and all the rest of it. I just felt both on the ice and in our room and around our team, we need a little bit more noise. Ryan brings that.”

Now Reaves slides in as the club’s next Wayne Simmonds: intimidating to fight, beloved teammate and leader, wants to win a Stanley Cup, makes everyone skate an inch taller.

Like Simmonds, there will be concern over the term of a deal that takes the veteran through to age 39 and, with any luck, Reaves’ 1,000th career game.

Our take: Love the personality. Not a fan of the price.

“You’d like them all short. But at the end of the day, you want to get the player,” Treliving said.

.........

What no Leafs role player will catch is the rising price tag of the team’s superstars, who are weighing down the books and stunting Treliving’s ability to pitch high-end talent.

Matthews and Mitch Marner’s no-move clauses have now been triggered. So, too, has William Nylander’s 10-team, no-trade list.

Treliving’s lack of clarity on Matthews and Nylander’s next deals, which can now be signed any day, has handcuffed his other business.

Those are his priorities — and a major reason for Reaves joining his first Canadian team.

 

[Nylanderthal]

If he's healthy, I don't see the issue. Does what Wayne Simmonds was supposed to do, but does it a lot better. This team certainly has enough players with no backbone that you can see where an enforcer might be needed.

How is he supposed to effect any change when he stapled to the bench or sitting in the press box

 

[socko]

How is he supposed to effect any change when he stapled to the bench or sitting in the press box

Well it's no replacement for core players that have it, that's for sure. But we don't have that. We have a 4th line goon that actually might scare some people.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Guys like me! You a?? Dubas had a job with Pitt long before his contract ran out. Pitt fired everyone except the dishwasher weeks before. He screwed around changed his tune once his deal with Pitt was done. He loves his family, they need to take time to consider, the long hours and travel,,,all that bs. Dubas is Judas...plain and simple. Thank goodness he is gone, and you can follow him to Pitt, PLEASE...bring some joy to Leafland!

Bill, it seems like Kyle must’ve slept with your old lady while he was attending Brock

 

[ManosArriba]

Treliving left Calgary a sinking ship, I guess it was naive to think he wouldn't continue that tradition here. Hopefully him and Shanahan are gone in 2 years or less.

 

[PanniniClaus]

So ROR chooses a team that is blowing it up over a SC contender. Does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling as a Leafs fan. Not a good look.

Says just as much about ROR though... Didn't want to be in the spotlight here. He's going to be outmatched nightly in a town that loves its hockey but does not have the same media spotlight.

 

[CelticDruid]

Mirtle says that the Reaves contract can be dumped because of updates to the bargaining agreement.

Can anyone verify this?
If true this makes the signing more tolerable

 

[Niagara Bill]

How is he supposed to effect any change when he stapled to the bench or sitting in the press box

Marner may actually show some guts when the going gets a little tough

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Nylanderthal]

Marner may actually show some guts when the going gets a little tough

How is a guy who will be in the pressbox going to make that happen?

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

Says just as much about ROR though... Didn't want to be in the spotlight here. He's going to be outmatched nightly in a town that loves its hockey but does not have the same media spotlight.

Maybe he stepped foot here for a coffee and saw there’s no changing this room because the children run the asylum

This would make Reaves’ contract far more tolerable

 

[theTTC]

It’s Burke bs all over again.

The idea of some physical entertainment too much to consider after years of the Dubas one-dimensional water-bug no-hitting video game?