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

[al secord]

Good dear christ almighty

I won't be sold until I hear that he takes charge of the music

 

[Eternal Leaf]

GMs don't realize that 4th liners being "characters" does little in the playoffs.

It has to be one or two of your main guys.

Matthews and Marner are not getting inspired because Reeves is peppy from the end of the bench while playing a handful of minutes a game. This is assuming he doesn't get sent to the press box after getting clowned early in the playoffs.

 

[leafers]

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

I love physicality and it’s been missing on the Leafs for some time but if you think Reaves actually improves the team you’re fooling yourself.

Taking stupid penalties with limited ice time in important games sure is entertaining…

 

[Menzinger]

Thank you Pridham

 

[socko]

Reaves with the series winning goal for Vegas sending them to the Stanley Cup finals.

 

[Nineteen67]

Reaves with the series winning goal for Vegas sending them to the Stanley Cup finals.

He was so good for VGK that season. That was probably it for him, though.

 

[Cleetus]

 

[fillkessel]

I really hope that quote from treliving has been fabricated or reworded. The dude hasn’t even stepped foot in the room? Just say that we wanted ppl to think twice before running our star players instead of pretending to know the room lol

 

[phillipmike]

Not a fan of the Reaves signing at all but maybe there is something to be said about his locker room presence when he joins a new team.

He has been in the league 12 years and has made the playoffs 12 times.

Since 2016-17, he went to at least the conference finals 4 times, the 2nd round once and lost in the first round only last year with Minny.

2016-17: Lost in the 2nd round to Nashville with the Blues

*Blues trade him to Pittsburgh, Blues miss the playoffs the next year*

*Doesnt last the season in Pittsburgh because the Pens trade him to Vegas. After this season, Pittsburgh doesn’t win a playoff round again.

2017-18: Lost in the Cup finals to Washington
2018-19: Lost in the first round in 7 to San Jose
2019-20: Lost in the conference finals to Dallas
2020-21: Lost in the conference finals to Montreal

*Vegas trades him to the Rangers, Vegas miss the playoffs the next year*

2021-22: After missing the playoffs the previous year, the Rangers qualify but lost in the conference finals to Tampa

*Rangers trade him to Minnesota, Rangers lose in the first round*

2022-23: Lost in the first round to Dallas

This may be all a coincidence and if it is and it doesn’t work out, as mentioned, his contract can be buried. Or worst case you can buy him out with minimal impact.

If you buy him out next season, its $450K for 4 seasons. If you buy him out 2 off-seasons from now, it’s $450k for 2 seasons.

Not an A+ signing, probably not even a D+ signing but he may have impact that doesn’t show up on the box score and his money is palatable, moveable and easy to stomach from a buy out point if worst case scenario arises.

That being said, he was acquired for 3rd less than 2 years ago and 5th less than 8 months ago at a higher AAV. At 1.35M with a rising cap, this contract can be traded before you have to contemplate a buyout or bury scenario.

 

[Puckstuff]

We needed a face puncher... Dubas would never have done this.. I don't care much for Reaves but i can't wait to see him punch Gudas and Bennett in the mouth.

But we need heavy weights that can play. Reaves is a heavy weight who plays 7 minutes a night and isn’t even good and he’s 36 and could fall off. Schenn is a heavy weight, he’s 3 years younger and logs 18-19 minutes a night and he made Rielly look like a super star.

 

[the Mighty Oak]

Looking forward to seeing him and Luchich go at it.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Looking forward to seeing him and Luchich go at it.

"Pfffffft. You don't know anything about hockey, Methot."

 

[Niagara Bill]

Too bad Accari left, but Reeves has use. But it shows what Dubas contracts, and now Treliving inability to get AM done before his no trade has done to this team.
No cap space, no new contracts for those with huge cap hits, no financial certainty, no minor leaguers who are ready to help this team, few draft picks.
Welcome to hockey hell.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Looking forward to seeing him and Luchich go at it.

They said the same thing about Simmonds and Clifford. Reaves is the same guy who got clowned in the playoffs multiple times (in his prime) and had to be scratched cause his line was giving up too many goals.

I have a feeling he won't even be in the playoff lineup next season. Maybe for a game or two before reality sets in.

 

[the Mighty Oak]

They said the same thing about Simmonds and Clifford. Reaves is the same guy who got clowned in the playoffs multiple times (in his prime) and had to be scratched cause his line was giving up too many goals.

I have a feeling he won't even be in the playoff lineup next season. Maybe for a game or two before reality sets in.

Well, I'm thinking his signing was. mainly to keep the boys safe during the season. come playoff time. The kids gotta grow some balls this year.

 

[the Mighty Oak]

Read this and then read it again and. then a third time.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/maple-leafs-gm-brad-treliving-explains-why-he-signed-ryan-reaves-to-three-year-contract

 

[Primary Assist]

At least there's a solid chance of Reaves beating up Lucic this year, that will distract us from everything else for at least about a day

 

[tuckerintensity]

Dear christ, who did Shanahan hire?

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Read this and then read it again and. then a third time.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/maple-leafs-gm-brad-treliving-explains-why-he-signed-ryan-reaves-to-three-year-contract

Forget reading it three times.

This is the third time the Leafs are trying something like this. Clifford, Simmonds, and now Reaves.

Third time is the charm I guess? Or shall I say three years?

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Well, I'm thinking his signing was. mainly to keep the boys safe during the season. come playoff time. The kids gotta grow some balls this year.

But It's the playoffs where other teams bully them big time.

The only way to solve this is by adding big, physical players on their lines. They need to be surrounded by physicality in the middle of the fight or it won't work.

 

[tuckerintensity]

Read this and then read it again and. then a third time.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/maple-leafs-gm-brad-treliving-explains-why-he-signed-ryan-reaves-to-three-year-contract

Definitely got Minnesota over the hump. Wait...

 

[the Mighty Oak]

This is pretty cool. and worth a watch.

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

 

[Da Mash]

From Kevin Papetti



I see two career playoff fights for Ryan Reaves on his fight card:

He fought Evander Kane in 2019, and Curtis McKenzie in 2016.

He's played in 108 career playoff games. He has 8 career playoff points

 

[hockeywiz542]

Why Maple Leafs brass think Ryan Reaves can liven up the team on and off the ice

“It is not about fighting and all of the rest of it ... we need a little bit more noise. Ryan brings that.”

theathletic.com

If Treliving has indeed identified the need to liven up the Leafs dressing room as a pressing one, perhaps to prevent the constant playoff disappointment hanging over this core like a dark cloud, Reaves could end up sparking change inside the dressing room.

Foligno said that one of Reaves’ best attributes in the dressing room is how the constant chatter he creates can then bring character out of teammates very few people knew existed.

Rude? Never.

In fact, Foligno called Reaves “very inclusive.”

“I appreciate guys that try to get everyone together, and not just the same guys over and over again. He always invites everyone over. He’s a big team-bonding guy and you appreciate guys like that to rally the troops and bring everyone out and get to know each other,” Foligno said.

Banter just brings a sense of conviviality that Foligno remembers changing the Wild dressing room for the better. That’s why the Wild were, according to Guerin and Treliving, intent on bringing Reaves back to Minnesota. And that’s why the Leafs wanted him and were willing to give him a three-year contract to secure his services.

“He’s going to be in your face,” Foligno said. “The way he is on the ice is the way he is off the ice.”

On the ice, Reaves’ physicality is still his strong suit. He hits players like a “football player” in his own estimation. Reaves racked up seven major penalties last season, still among the upper echelon in the league at 36. At his best, the Leafs will hope he will use that physicality to create turnovers on the forecheck.

“(Reaves) obviously doesn’t play a ton of minutes and doesn’t play in crazy, crucial situations. But when he does play he is effective, and then when you can roll four lines, it helps that out,” Foligno said.

In that TSN appearance, Reaves said his new team was built with skill up front but “not a lot of grit.”

Foligno said Reaves doesn’t just bring that aforementioned grit, but “balance and confidence to a lot of guys around him.”

 

[Jagged Ice]

Good dear christ almighty

I won't be sold until I hear that he takes charge of the music

I thought the Hall & Oates goal song was going to be discontinued prior to last season. I've also heard Matthews and Marner wanted this song so they gave it to them.

You Make My Dreams