Waived: Reaves on Waivers

[Dekes For Days]

Could Reaves also keep Tkachuk from running guys?

He doesn't prevent anybody from doing anything.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

He can be fun during an 82 game season. Don't need a fighter in the playoffs.

 

[banks]

If it were up to me, I wouldn't even consider putting Reaves in the lineup.

But the playoffs are an ever-changing monster. If an opponent took a few runs at stars, or some bad hits injured a few Leafs, then I wouldn't be shocked to see him put into the lineup.

And given how terrible our 3rd line has been at times, maybe some change would be good (Reaves or not).

 

[Tak7]

Could Reaves also keep Tkachuk from running guys?

...absolutely - players like Brady Tkachuk often skip shifts and periods in games when a Ryan Reaves is dressed and in the lineup.

 

[fahad203]

We don't need Reaves for this series. We just need to stay the course. It's not like we are down 3-1

We will be home, we will get last change, front of our home crowd

Nothing Brady or any sens have done that we need Reaves for

 

[Antropovsky]

...absolutely - players like Brady Tkachuk often skip shifts and periods in games when a Ryan Reaves is dressed and in the lineup.

Naaa, once playoffs roll around fighter don't make a difference because players just refuse to fight them...for good reason too. It's more valuable for the opponent to have Reaves taking shifts and much less valuable for the star player to engage in a penalty trade off with a 4th liner.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

If Reaves was a few years younger I could see him being a force with Lorentz and Laughton. But at his age and with our depth there’s just zero reason to insert him into the lineup.

 

[Evilhomer]

This is all pretty far off because I don't think Washington would get past Carolina, but even if the Leafs play Washington in the conference fin I'm not sure Reaves would have much impact on Wilson.

He’s the only guy they have to put Wilson in his place

 

[Moncherry]

The fourth line is actually playable without him, and Domi is a more effective enforcer at this point. Why is this even a discussion?

Antics and physicality haven't even been factors in this series anyhow.

 

[The Shadow]

The fourth line is actually playable without him, and Domi is a more effective enforcer at this point. Why is this even a discussion?

Antics and physicality haven't even been factors in this series anyhow.

Domi is your answer to Wilson? That’s exactly why it’s a discussion. Wilson poops bigger than Max

 

[ACC1224]

Domi is your answer to Wilson? That’s exactly why it’s a discussion. Wilson poops bigger than Max

It’s not a discussion though. It’s not something that is needed or that will happen. It’s not often things are unanimous around here but that seems to be the consensus on this.

 

[stickty111]

Reaves won't stop Wilson and Tkachuk and he also isn't an NHL player anymore. Players like those 2 will keep up their antics no matter who is in the lineup.

 

[Moncherry]

Domi is your answer to Wilson? That’s exactly why it’s a discussion. Wilson poops bigger than Max

Why would they need a specific answer to Wilson? Because he laid a hit last night and and the Leafs might possibly see him two rounds from now?

There are far more effective methods of dealing with the problems players like Wilson or Tkachuk can cause than dressing a player to try and fight or hit them. It would be playing right into their hands. Reaves hasn't even been useful in that particular role for a while now, and the team has shown throughout the season they can stand up for themselves and play tough hockey.

 

[ACC1224]

Why would they need a specific answer to Wilson? Because he laid a hit last night and and the Leafs might possibly see him two rounds from now?

There are far more effective methods of dealing with the problems players like Wilson or Tkachuk can cause than dressing a player to try and fight or hit them. It would be playing right into their hands. Reaves hasn't even been useful in that particular role for a while now, and the team has shown throughout the season they can stand up for themselves and play tough hockey.

Wilson seemed pretty quiet until Anderson woke him up. Not sure why anyone would think that’s a good strategy

 

[Leafsfan74]

I bring Reaves in only if Leafs are being manhandled, refs look the other way and/or there is a need for revenge. I'm not so sure this franchise has it in them to even address such issues but I know that many teams would, and rightfully so.

Brady got away with some B.S face washes, late hits and grabbing guys from behind. Refs looked the other way.

JT was hit with a dirty shoulder when the puck isn't near him and he had to go into concussion protocol. The refs looked away.

None of these instances directly demand a player like Reaves to exact justice and Leafs certainly haven't been manhandled but just as Stolarz had to take the law into his own hands when someone was in his crease and partially ran him the game before, players will need to protect themselves if the league won't. I've said this for years, it's only human.

While at the same time you don't want to retaliate, you have a game and series to win. This is why the league must refrain from bringing back the Medieval Times every playoff season.

The chances of Reaves seeing action in the playoffs is slim, especially as the team toughness is far more committed and supportive of one another than in the past. However, there are red lines which if crossed and the league looked the other way in which as a franchise you have to give the league a reason to penalize Reaves because he will be there to address the rules that the league disregards.

It's a horrible way for the game to be played, I've always hated dirty hockey even when the sport was far more nasty and violent than it is today. However, every player understands the Code. If they violate it and the league or refs don't care, how is a team supposed to operate?

Just call the game straight, for both teams. It's funny how often they called interference once Sid the Kid was picked by Pittsburgh. They needed to save their franchise so in 2005/2006 they called EVERYTHING to ensure the protection of Sid. Penguins picked up George Larocque for insurance as Penguins saw teams team liberties on him. Go look at the power play chances in the pre-season though, it was strictly by the books. 8 or 9 penalties a game some nights.

A guy shouldn't have to risk his future health because some neanderthal assaults him on the ice.

 

[Menzinger]

Wilson is a legitimate top six forward. Reaves can't come close to playing that role in the playoffs

And at this point, outside of fighting, the Leafs have better options for everything on the 4th libe