The Toronto Maple Leafs can no longer waste a roster spot on Ryan Reaves

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to make smarter decisions, and that starst with Ryan Reaves.

Ryan Reaves is among the worst players in the NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs cannot afford to play him for even one minute this season. Now, I hope no one takes offense to me calling Reaves one of the worst players, but the fact is, he's an enforcer ina league where the very concept is outdated. If not for fighting, he isn't good enough to play a regular shift at the age of 37. There's no shame in that either - most people aren't.

I am sure Reaves is a great guy, and he's obviously popular and successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams. But he can't play in the NHL at age 37. Certainly not for a team that wants to win.

The Leafs play in the NHL's toughest division, and winning it is the difference between a chanace at making the Stanley Cup Finals and having a ridiculously tough path through the playoffs. One single point could change the entire trajectory of the season, and Ryan Reaves will cost you a lot more than one point.

The Toronto Maple Leafs can no longer waste a roster spot on Ryan Reaves

The Leafs probably feel like they need to keep Reaves around to justify the three-year contract Brad Treliving gave to him last year. This was one of the single most ill-informed, embarassing things a Leafs GM has ever done, which is saying a lot.

But it's time to admit they made an error and move on. This is just embarassing for everyone. I don't want to write this, you don't want to read it, and certainly it's got to be humiliating for everyone involved.

Reaves played five games in last year's playoffs, which means firing Sheldon Keefe was the correct decision. In two of those games, Reaves either took a penalty early or made an error that led to a goal. He was personally responsible for the Leafs being down 1-0 in two of their seven games.

That is completely unacceptable from William Nylander, let alone a guy who shouldn't even be dressing in pre-season games.

With Reaves on the ice in the playoffs the Leafs had the puck only 45% of the time. They were outshot 23-12 which is BRUTAL. They had an expected goals rating of 31%, which is something that is extremely important in an otherwise even series that ended up being decided by one goal. (stats naturalstattrick.com).

Reaves brings toughness and leadership, but those thing pale in comparison to the how bad the Leafs are when he is on the ice. When he plays the Leafs are intentionally letting the other team destroy them. The Leafs were down by 12 goals when Reaves played last year - if they are even in those minutes, maybe they can make up the four games the Panthers beat them by and have home-ice advantage.

The Leafs have so many good players in the organization and not one of them deserves to sit on the bench so the team can dress an enforcer who makes them 10 x worse when he plays, like its 1985.

Not only should Ryan Reaves already have been cut, but if he's on the team it's an indication that the team has no clue what they are doing. It's 2024 and it's time the Leafs acted like it.