The Toronto Maple Leafs received some bad news this week when they realized that Ryan Reaves suspension was over and he was eligible to return to the lineup.
While Ryan Reaves seems like a great guy in every other aspect, he is 37 years-old and he's an enforcer, which is a role all but the most regressive and misguided teams have done away with.
The numbers don't lie: When Ryan Reaves plays, the Leafs are a worse team. They have better options for the fourth line, and stand to gain cap space by sending him to the AHL. Worst of all, the Leafs are 7-1 without him in the lineup, .500 with him.
One argument I kept hearing, from multiple people, was that I was "an idiot," because dressing Reaves "prevents injuries" and other team's from "taking liberties" with the Leafs players. This is a laughably outdated concept that clearly most NHL teams no longer believe. It has never stood up to any scrutiny and is hockey's "flat earth" concept.
An enforcer who plays five minutes per game isn't changing anyone's behavior. In olden times, the prince would have a whipping boy who took all his punishments. In the NHL, should someone run Auston Matthews, Ryan Reaves will then fight that guy's team's enforcer. Give me a break here. John Tavares embarrassed himself and ruined his credibility by hawking fake amulets that protect you from injury and 5G radiation, but as ridiculous as that is, it's likely more real than the idea that Ryan Reaves will prevent injuries.
Toronto Maple Leafs Takes - Bonus Round
John Tavares - amulets aside, he's earned a job on Team Canada. But seriously, he's a rich guy who is living his dreams like the rest of us wish we were, but at least now we know that money can't be you everything.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - the worst signing of the summer. Oh my good sweet deity of choice, this guy is bad. The sooner he moves into the Mark Giordano role, the sooner the Leafs can become a legit contender.
Nick Robertson - give him unlimited opportunities, I promise he'll eventually be worth it.
Matthews and Marner? Well, I think my man Dexter said it best.
Ryan O'Reilly coming back to the Leafs? That's a hard pass for me. No thanks.
This isn't about the Leafs, but the stupidest thing I've ever heard is leaving Connor Bedard off of the upcoming team Canada.
Also not about the Leafs: the best album of the year is Songs of a Lost World by the Cure, and the best movie I saw this year was either Fall Guy, Hitman, Furiosa, Strange Darling, Late Night with the Devil, Dune 2 or Longlegs. It was quite a year for movies, I thought. The worst movie I saw was either Wolverine vs Deadpool or Inside Out 2, they both made me long for Madame Web - hahahaha.
The Golden At Bat - I can't believe this is a real thing. Sorry I said leaving Connor Bedard off Team Canada was the stupidest thing ever, because this is actually a much worse idea.
Wish List: With Santa getting ready to dish out presents, I'd like to request one Zach Werenski and one Trent Frederic, unfortunately the mail is still not working and I don't know if the big red guy's taking faxes these days.