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

[Arzak]

You should never expect him to play meaningful minutes to make us tougher. That's the difference between Reaves and Gudas or better yet Chara.

1.3M 4th liner is not doing the trick? I thought that they would all acquire previously unheard-of testicular powers by virtue of him being present on the bench !!! No one will shout at our goalie!

Simmonds > Reaves

How many time we'll try way past his prime enforcer? John Scott available for next year?

Or maybe, just maybe your 11M dollar players need to grow a pair or be traded because you can't offset the scared child on your first line by an old enforcer on your 4th line.

We tried, it made 0 difference. Try something else. Anything but John Scott next pls

 

[Gallagbi]

You guys are insane.

I have watched two games live and not once did i say......... Oh No Reaves.. what are you doing.

I think that's the interesting thing. This is arguably him playing well. But he's on a defensive line with a conservative center.

That C cant and doesnt cover for his lack of speed or puck skills, so we're spending too much time defending. His side is a black hole unless its a set breakout because opposing D are free to pinch and keep pucks in.

Basically you gave uptempo wingera to a passive C. I dont blame any of them for it, thats roster construction and the way weve built, but they need to figure out a way to adapt or theyll struggle all year

 

[TorMapleJays]

I think that's the interesting thing. This is arguably him playing well. But he's on a defensive line with a conservative center.

That C cant and doesnt cover for his lack of speed or puck skills, so we're spending too much time defending. His side is a black hole unless its a set breakout because opposing D are free to pinch and keep pucks in.

Basically you gave uptempo wingera to a passive C. I dont blame any of them for it, thats roster construction and the way weve built, but they need to figure out a way to adapt or theyll struggle all year

Reaves is playing high in the offensive zone. He’s not getting sucked low and he’s had several opportunities to get points, and even goals. I don’t see him as a liability so far.

But I also love a physical style game and I think Trev is too.

 

[Gallagbi]

Reaves is playing high in the offensive zone. He’s not getting sucked low and he’s had several opportunities to get points, and even goals. I don’t see him as a liability so far.

But I also love a physical style game and I think Trev is too.

They havent really had much sustained pressure, so the speed issues are mostly visible with his defensive board play and getting beat to pucks for continued offensive possession or quick transition. They did have that 1 GA v. minny where he was first forechecker and the D just walked around him like he wasnt there.

The whole line is liability right now. Thats not iust on him, but he limited skills show

 

[Gilmour1996]

Start teaching these skills in the AHL and only call up the players who have proven that they can hold their own against players of the same size. Hire an ex-tough guy as instructor and make it part of every practice. Get some punching bags for the gym.

 

[Kurtz]

The premeditated stuff is ineffective. The 4 have been coddled emotionally. If they have to be coddled physically then play Reaves on the 1st and 2nd lines. Sememko / McSorley had shifts with Gretz; Probert with Y. Then maybe Reaves' play can draw the 4 out of their emotional shell and into physical engagement and force them to man up.

The big 4 have carried us so far this year, they have been the least of our problems. And they've taken turns stepping up in the playoffs as well (although it'd be nice if all 4 stepped up at the same time).

Our problem has not been the big 4 - it's the lack of depth, and particularly under Kyle we've let good depth players slip through our fingers (Mccann, Rodriguez, Perry, etc) to keep the wrong guys (Kerfoot, Holl).

Naturally, the big 4's salaries make depth a challenge, but the aforementioned players we've let slip away were not highly paid guys.

 

[WTFMAN99]

 

[Gollum Leafs]

I wish he could move faster
He always looks like he's moving in slow motion

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I was listening to Leaf Talk (Fan 590) last night.

JD Bunkis called Reaves "one of the worst players he's seen on TOR in a long time".

Perhaps he just needs a propper Coach Keefe remedy: the Keefe blender. Next game he'll be on a line with Marner and Matthews.

 

[wingman75]

Worse than I expected. Not really playable imo since he cannot make a play with the puck. Unfortunate.

 

[shaner8989]

Waivers immediately. Buyout. Whatever the f*** you have to do to make him GONE

 

[Stephen]

Waivers immediately. Buyout. Whatever the f*** you have to do to make him GONE

Send him to the Growlers.

 

[wingman75]

Send him to the Growlers.

He'd probably be good in the NAHL. Him and Larocque Brashear could have a man-level tilt!

 

[Apex Predator]

I didn’t hate the signing because his cap hit was minimal despite what some say. He hasn’t been great and I know it’s only 10 games but they need to sit him down and try something different with the 4th line.

 

[Fogelhund]

Why we got him can't be measured on a chart, but it still paints a picture of his hockey "ability". Personally, I think we will look back by the end of the year, and wonder why we did this.

What a great add.

""

Liability at hockey.

I’m not going to quote some of the responses I got for taking this position before the season started…. But some of you need to pay attention to how actual hockey players play, outside of Toronto.

 

[fancy lad]

All signs are pointing to failure.

We could have at the very least used a fight last night.

He definitely needs some pressbox time.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

 

[BallardEra]

 

[DuklaNation]

If there was a game where this signing made sense, it was the Boston game. Yet the same result was observed.

 

[hockeywiz542]

The Ryan Reaves experience isn't going well for the Leafs

The supposed intimidation factor with Reaves hasn't mattered as much as the Leafs may have hoped when the acquired him.

theathletic.com

The Leafs have been outscored 6-0 with Reaves on the ice this season. Opponents have controlled 64 percent of the expected goals. Reaves has yet to register a point and has landed only four shots on goal with six attempts.

Fourth lines featuring Reaves have been sinkholes for the Leafs, units where possession has gone to die.

The first incarnation, which saw David Kämpf centering Reaves and speedster Noah Gregor, was disastrous: The Leafs were out-chanced 16-7, outscored 3-0, and emerged with a shocking 27 percent of the expected goals, per Evolving Hockey.

Kämpf-led lines had been good at digging their way out of defensive zone quicksand. Head coach Sheldon Keefe couldn’t use the line that way with Reaves on it — which led to Kämpf (!) leading the team in offensive zone faceoffs early on.

After moving Kämpf into the third centre spot, Keefe tried 19-year-old Fraser Minten between Reaves and Gregor briefly (about four minutes) before pivoting to Pontus Holmberg.

The results were poor still as the Leafs won just 32 percent of the expected goals, according to Evolving Hockey.

Fourth lines for the Leafs have served no function to this point. They haven’t generated any offence, or even much offensive zone time for that matter, while getting lit up on defence. Reaves’ lack of speed and skill has been central to those issues.

The Leafs have had to chase the game when he’s out there, not unlike what happened with former Leaf Colton Orr years ago.

And that’s with Keefe doing what he can to protect Reaves: Only Auston Matthews has a higher (slightly) offensive zone faceoff percentage (56.5 percent) among Leaf forwards than Reaves (56.3). And because the Leafs coach has no longer been able to rely on his third and fourth lines for defensive purposes, he’s had to lean on Matthews-led units for more onerous duty there, which has at least factored into that line’s quiet start to the season. (They finally broke out with two goals against the Bruins.)

..........................

When the Leafs signed Reaves, it was tempting to think that his contract wasn’t all that big of a deal — just $1.35 million on the cap. It, however, has already led to the team dumping the more useful Sam Lafferty for flexibility purposes.

The Leafs could have almost had two forwards playing for the NHL minimum — like the recently signed Sam Gagner and Danton Heinen — who brought more value with the money they allocated to Reaves.

This is only the regular season, mind you, not the playoffs when Reaves’ presence in the lineup figures to become even more problematic.

 

[SprDaVE]

The Ryan Reaves experience isn't going well for the Leafs

The supposed intimidation factor with Reaves hasn't mattered as much as the Leafs may have hoped when the acquired him.

theathletic.com

The Leafs have been outscored 6-0 with Reaves on the ice this season. Opponents have controlled 64 percent of the expected goals. Reaves has yet to register a point and has landed only four shots on goal with six attempts.

Fourth lines featuring Reaves have been sinkholes for the Leafs, units where possession has gone to die.

The first incarnation, which saw David Kämpf centering Reaves and speedster Noah Gregor, was disastrous: The Leafs were out-chanced 16-7, outscored 3-0, and emerged with a shocking 27 percent of the expected goals, per Evolving Hockey.

Kämpf-led lines had been good at digging their way out of defensive zone quicksand. Head coach Sheldon Keefe couldn’t use the line that way with Reaves on it — which led to Kämpf (!) leading the team in offensive zone faceoffs early on.

After moving Kämpf into the third centre spot, Keefe tried 19-year-old Fraser Minten between Reaves and Gregor briefly (about four minutes) before pivoting to Pontus Holmberg.

The results were poor still as the Leafs won just 32 percent of the expected goals, according to Evolving Hockey.

Fourth lines for the Leafs have served no function to this point. They haven’t generated any offence, or even much offensive zone time for that matter, while getting lit up on defence. Reaves’ lack of speed and skill has been central to those issues.

The Leafs have had to chase the game when he’s out there, not unlike what happened with former Leaf Colton Orr years ago.

And that’s with Keefe doing what he can to protect Reaves: Only Auston Matthews has a higher (slightly) offensive zone faceoff percentage (56.5 percent) among Leaf forwards than Reaves (56.3). And because the Leafs coach has no longer been able to rely on his third and fourth lines for defensive purposes, he’s had to lean on Matthews-led units for more onerous duty there, which has at least factored into that line’s quiet start to the season. (They finally broke out with two goals against the Bruins.)

Can these soft reporters ask Keefe if he still thinks Reaves has been great? Or are they just not gonna ask him about this. He's not going to answer or whatever, I know, but putting some pressure here to get an answer would be nice.

Having to triple shift the top 2 lines because the other lines are a mess, all because one player can't do shit.

 

[Menzinger]

If he's not scrapping or doing "energy line" things, there's zero reason for him to even dress.

He more than anyone else (well, maybe Bertuzzi as well) needs an impact moment next game to remind us why he should stay in the lineup

 

[Rare Jewel]

The Ryan Reaves experience isn't going well for the Leafs

The supposed intimidation factor with Reaves hasn't mattered as much as the Leafs may have hoped when the acquired him.

theathletic.com

The Leafs have been outscored 6-0 with Reaves on the ice this season. Opponents have controlled 64 percent of the expected goals. Reaves has yet to register a point and has landed only four shots on goal with six attempts.

Fourth lines featuring Reaves have been sinkholes for the Leafs, units where possession has gone to die.

The first incarnation, which saw David Kämpf centering Reaves and speedster Noah Gregor, was disastrous: The Leafs were out-chanced 16-7, outscored 3-0, and emerged with a shocking 27 percent of the expected goals, per Evolving Hockey.

Kämpf-led lines had been good at digging their way out of defensive zone quicksand. Head coach Sheldon Keefe couldn’t use the line that way with Reaves on it — which led to Kämpf (!) leading the team in offensive zone faceoffs early on.

After moving Kämpf into the third centre spot, Keefe tried 19-year-old Fraser Minten between Reaves and Gregor briefly (about four minutes) before pivoting to Pontus Holmberg.

The results were poor still as the Leafs won just 32 percent of the expected goals, according to Evolving Hockey.

Fourth lines for the Leafs have served no function to this point. They haven’t generated any offence, or even much offensive zone time for that matter, while getting lit up on defence. Reaves’ lack of speed and skill has been central to those issues.

The Leafs have had to chase the game when he’s out there, not unlike what happened with former Leaf Colton Orr years ago.

And that’s with Keefe doing what he can to protect Reaves: Only Auston Matthews has a higher (slightly) offensive zone faceoff percentage (56.5 percent) among Leaf forwards than Reaves (56.3). And because the Leafs coach has no longer been able to rely on his third and fourth lines for defensive purposes, he’s had to lean on Matthews-led units for more onerous duty there, which has at least factored into that line’s quiet start to the season. (They finally broke out with two goals against the Bruins.)

..........................

When the Leafs signed Reaves, it was tempting to think that his contract wasn’t all that big of a deal — just $1.35 million on the cap. It, however, has already led to the team dumping the more useful Sam Lafferty for flexibility purposes.

The Leafs could have almost had two forwards playing for the NHL minimum — like the recently signed Sam Gagner and Danton Heinen — who brought more value with the money they allocated to Reaves.

This is only the regular season, mind you, not the playoffs when Reaves’ presence in the lineup figures to become even more problematic.

Effectively playing short-handed.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Can these soft reporters ask Keefe if he still thinks Reaves has been great? Or are they just not gonna ask him about this. He's not going to answer or whatever, I know, but putting some pressure here to get an answer would be nice.

Having to triple shift the top 2 lines because the other lines are a mess, all because one player can't do shit.

Well, we could go into why the reporters (Simmons aside) are soft, but that's another issue.

With Reeves, he's not going to say anything because the guy who signed Reeves also gave him an extension himself.

 

[notbias]

Can these soft reporters ask Keefe if he still thinks Reaves has been great? Or are they just not gonna ask him about this. He's not going to answer or whatever, I know, but putting some pressure here to get an answer would be nice.

Having to triple shift the top 2 lines because the other lines are a mess, all because one player can't do shit.

That is the thing that is getting overlooked, people are complaining about Kampf at 3C... there is a reason for that. That 4th line was absolutely terrible.

You address the Reaves issue and then that likely addresses line 3