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Why the Toronto Maple Leafs Need Ryan Reaves in the Lineup

By David Agnew

Apr 17, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Reaves (75) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild in game one of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Reaves (75) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild in game one of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The image of Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Matthew Knies being body-slammed by the Florida Panther’s Sam Bennett is burned in my memory, and it isn’t a pleasant recollection.

Knies left Game 2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs / Panthers 2nd round Stanley Cup playoff matchup with a concussion, and missed the rest of the series.

Earlier in the playoffs, Leafs superstar Auston Matthews was sucker-punched several times by Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos before eventually realizing he’d better try to defend himself.  Another fine highlight of a skilled yet punchless (literally) Toronto squad.

There were other similar occasions this season while watching the Leafs play that made me think of the 2011 playoffs, when Boston’s Brad Marchand punched Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin in the face, again and again and again.  Sedin and his fellow Canucks just took it, while I screamed at the television for somebody, anybody, to do something!

Although I don’t mind the occasional bout of spirited fisticuffs, I’m happy that the days of frequent line brawls and goon hockey have been replaced with a faster and more skilled game.  That said, teams still have to ensure that they have an adequate response to opponents looking to take advantage of a “soft” lineup.

Toronto Maple Leafs Need a Physical Presence

Some NHL teams have the toughness requirement already covered with their top players.  Guys like Mark Messier, Eric Lindros, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and Wendel Clark could bring the rough stuff just as easily as they scored goals.  Current players such as Matthew and Brady Tkatchuk have a similar makeup.

Other teams (such as the Toronto Maple Leafs of this past season), are made up mostly of either smaller players who can’t defend themselves, or larger players whose style is not physical.  It’s not necessarily a problem to construct a lineup such as this, but someone has to do the dirty work.  It is critical to have a willing and able sheriff if everyone else is a shopkeeper.

The Leafs brought in Wayne Simmonds three years ago to fulfill this role, but as much as I like Simmonds, he no longer scared anyone.  This season, GM Kyle Dubas brought in some grit at the trade deadline (Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Acciari, Luke Schenn, etc.).  Other than Schenn, none of these guys are fighters, and Schenn isn’t really one to prevent opponents from taking liberties.

This brings me to Ryan Reaves.  Even though Reaves is getting old (he’s 36), he doesn’t score, and signing him for three years was ludicrous, none of that matters.  What matters is that he is still intimidating.  He’s a big, strong man who can (and happily will) deliver a beating to just about anyone who decides to rough up any of Reaves’ teammates.

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He won’t get much ice time.  He may not score at all. He probably won’t even need to fight much.  The point of having him is what the Leafs’ opponents won’t be doing any longer.

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