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

[Seath The Scaleless]

I think the Leafs will also be playing Reaves in the playoffs this year as well. I honestly don't think they got him for just the regular season like I hear some people saying im the media, etc.

Not sure if that will be a great idea. You'd basically be down to 11 forwards because he's likely not seeing more than 5 minutes a game and can't be trusted in most situations. Kampf will take on defensive assignments and of course he can't be playing with Reaves. (If Kampf is the 3C, then that's a problem)

For a team that has had trouble scoring goals in the playoffs, the last thing they need is a complete black hole up front.

 

[BallardEra]

Not sure if that will be a great idea. You'd basically be down to 11 forwards because he's likely not seeing more than 5 minutes a game and can't be trusted in most situations. Kampf will take on defensive assignments and of course he can't be playing with Reaves. (If Kampf is the 3C, then that's a problem)

For a team that has had trouble scoring goals in the playoffs, the last thing they need is a complete black hole up front.

Not saying I disagree but I honestly see him starting in the playoffs.

 

[MarMarSab3]

Hated this signing, 500k to much for a 13th forward

Hated the Kampf signing , 700k to much

We all knew this, how did management not?

Lafferty was nice but he's not the guy either.

 

[Evilhomer]

Oh do tell me the point please. What exactly did they get him for when they have a bunch of others who can fight, hit and whatever he can do? Is he there to beat everyone up on the other team? Uplift the team? Doesn't seem to be working and i'll bet you anything it won't because that's not the issue here...These guys need to find those things inside them and nobody else will be able to provide that for them except maybe in a few games here and there(overall meaningless).

Because in a team sport, sometimes one or two guys can change how a team evolves and reacts. The Leafs don't need more talent at this stage. They have plenty of talent. What they needed, and what Reaves provides, is a leader. Now, this leads to the obvious comment about what is says about the existing leadership on the team, and that is the issue. The team didn't have a leader before Reaves. It isn't Tavares, Matthews or Marner. Those guys are incredible offensively, but they clearly needed a different voice. That is the purpose that Reaves serves.

 

[MarnerElite]

Because in a team sport, sometimes one or two guys can change how a team evolves and reacts. The Leafs don't need more talent at this stage. They have plenty of talent. What they needed, and what Reaves provides, is a leader. Now, this leads to the obvious comment about what is says about the existing leadership on the team, and that is the issue. The team didn't have a leader before Reaves. It isn't Tavares, Matthews or Marner. Those guys are incredible offensively, but they clearly needed a different voice. That is the purpose that Reaves serves.

I agree that JT isn't it but man he really should be. If people can't lean on their 30+ year old captain something is horribly wrong...And needing a 4th line guy who can't really play meaningful minutes is even worse. We already have enough guys screwing up plays in old Gio, Brodie, JT, and few others, we can't have more of these types. I am a bigger fan of players who make good decisions on the ice then their level of toughness or even skill(even though that can be nice of course as Willy and some others show at times). But this team has so many brain dead players.

 

[ACC1224]

If you think Reaves was the problem tonight you need your head examined. However, I was disappointed he didn’t pound that rat Perry. It is his job after all.

This is correct.

Move onto Domi already, Reaves is exactly as advertised so far.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

If only Lafferty was there to save us tonight. God I miss that elite 4th liner.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

If only Lafferty was there to save us tonight. God I miss that elite 4th liner.

The legend of Sam Lafferty continues to grow. I expect a song to be written about him soon.

He was USELESS for us last season.

 

[Leaf Fans]

They signed Gregor as well, and they could have had both Gregor and Lafferty on the team, but they decided to sign a worse, older player until he's 40, give him Lafferty's money (and then some), hand him Lafferty's 4th line winger spot, and trade Lafferty instead. And no, Reaves is not even close to one of the best 4th line wingers in the league. He's closer to the opposite.

There definitely was a way to keep both, but that might have involved not keeping Reaves.

 

[Dekes For Days]

There definitely was a way to keep both, but that might have involved not keeping Reaves.

Sounds like a win-win.

 

[DarkKnight]

Do you watch the games? This comment makes me think you don't.

Look at the minus last night, watch that play, you’re a stone cold fool if you’re arguing that’s anything about him. Kampf is a disaster right now, I find it funny nobody is debating his contract, which looks worse by the second.

This is going to be the dumb thread this year, wait, it already is….. It’s so boring.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Sounds like a win-win.

Yeah, it is turning out that way.

 

[DarkKnight]

The legend of Sam Lafferty continues to grow. I expect a song to be written about him soon.

He was USELESS for us last season.

He was so amazing here, Keefe didn’t even mention the trade the day after in his scrum, until the last question it was a complete after thought. The video tribute should be incredible. It’s so obviously people are now propping him up to slag Reaves, when in reality nobody really cared about him when he was here. We will hear about every secondary assist he gets on his crappy team, just like when people brought up his stats on the worst team in the league last year.

 

[Apex Predator]

The legend of Sam Lafferty continues to grow. I expect a song to be written about him soon.

He was USELESS for us last season.

Put him on legend row with Miro Altonen, Dennis Malgin and Adam Brooks.

 

[ACC1224]

Put him on legend row with Miro Altonen, Dennis Malgin and Adam Brooks.

Brooksie is a beauty, keep him out of this.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Most of these folks are in denial but don't worry it'll hit them soon enough.

Well I thought the denial went a lot deeper than what you're referring to.

We still have a top heavy team taking up most of the cap. Reaves presence and Lafferty's absence is such a small thing compared to...oh say Nylander as an own rental or extending Nylander making the cap squeeze even worse.

At the end of the day are MM, JT, WN, and AM going to show up for the playoffs? Can we go deeper than 1 round?

Are you in on the 3rd line or are you in denial of that too?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Buy this t-shirt in support of Ryan Reaves:

 

[Apex Predator]

Buy this t-shirt in support of Ryan Reaves:View attachment 753850

Whats devo stand for?

 

[AlienWorkShop]

ahhh, so we've discovered the season-long* debate that will eat our collective brains.

*well, maybe 3 seasons-long

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Whats devo stand for?

Devolution

 

[Fogelhund]

Look at the minus last night, watch that play, you’re a stone cold fool if you’re arguing that’s anything about him. Kampf is a disaster right now, I find it funny nobody is debating his contract, which looks worse by the second.

This is going to be the dumb thread this year, wait, it already is….. It’s so boring.

Unquestionably, Kampf/Gregor/Reaves is a disaster right now. Kampf at least won some faceoffs last night, but otherwise had another bad night. I find Kampf and Reaves to be odd linemates. Kampf has been good for us over the years, but it's been primarily on a line where it was a defensive shut down role, with some energy. Reaves doesn't match with what we've had Kampf do in the past.

The way that we used Kampf in the past... third most minutes of the C's... and 6th/7th most minutes of forwards, he was paid correctly. But to play him 7 minutes a game...at $2.4 mil... that's a waste.

Kampf is out there trying to play no event hockey, and Reaves is out there trying to kill people. To me it makes no sense... what exactly are you trying to achieve with this line?

 

[Gallagbi]

Look at the minus last night, watch that play, you’re a stone cold fool if you’re arguing that’s anything about him. Kampf is a disaster right now, I find it funny nobody is debating his contract, which looks worse by the second.

This is going to be the dumb thread this year, wait, it already is….. It’s so boring.

They all play a role

Bad pinch by Kling, bad read by Willy. Kampf loses the puck retrieval in the corner, Kiling goes for a skate. Reaves works hard to get back, but doesnt take a lane to distrupt hes puck chasing on a bad angle. McCabe needs to close the gap on the scorer once he has support.

Any one of those making a better play stops the goal

 

[WTFMAN99]

This is correct.

Move onto Domi already, Reaves is exactly as advertised so far.

Domi has been disappointing so far.

I don't know if he needs a reset or just someone to tell him to forget his dad's connection to Toronto, just play his game, play hard, play smart and give it your all out there.

We're incorporating a lot of new players into the mix this year and it can take time...and even some guys that were with us last year have struggled early.

 

[Da Mash]

We sign tough guys in the past…guys with supposedly high character…etc

But if your a liability defensively,then it means very little be a cheerleader in the locker room.

The team has been down this road to many times. We will continue to be one of the better regular season teams because we have great talent.

The new toy shine will wear off. Domi gets demoted and you can get into many trash talk from the bench but if you continually a minus player you do your team no good.

Players equipment is like armour nowadays. Even Reese last fight against Minny the guy didn’t even take his shield off. What kind of intimidation is that?

Basically we will be lucky to get 10 pts out of that 4th line in a season

Kampf is the black hole and Reese has no hands and no hockey IQ. McGregor is fast but gets no help from the other two.

Then you have your 3rd line that really needs Knies moved up. As we are not getting any point production from that line too.

Should of invested in a tough Big dman that can also fight.

JMHO

 

[Da Mash]

Do you watch the games? This comment makes me think you don't.

Watched every game and I agree with him. Being a liability on D does the team no favor no matter how much he yaps from the bench.

If 10 mins of the game …in each game you lose the plus minus game….then how does that help the team? Opposing team intimidated being up a goal when he is on the ice?

Our stars don’t need a body guard in the ice . They all have had great success in the regular season

Playoffs are different as rules change so Reese may be more intimidating but then again…goals are valuable in playoffs and if you are terrible defensively it hurts your team more

JMHO