Ryan Reaves Should have played his last game for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Ryan Reaves may have sealed his fate with the Toronto Maple Leafs after his questionable hit on Darnell Nurse during the second period of Saturday night’s Leafs-Oilers tilt.

Now, I’ll be frank. I’ve been a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer for a while. I like his rough-and-tumble style. Guys like Reaves, Matt Martin, Nic Deslauriers, and others of the same ilk have a lot to offer the game. They’re like the predators that lurk about in the wild.

Others, however, look at Reaves and see a player who can't keep up and whose bad play and constant penalties just hurt the team.

However, Reaves stepped over the line with his bone-crushing hit on Nurse and has been suspended five games. Reaves not only knocked Nurse into next week, but he injured Nurse on the play. Honestly, the outcome could have been a lot worse. But as it stands, Nurse will hopefully be fine.

Ryan Reaves Should have played his last game for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Reaves got a game misconduct for his deed, and will now get five games off. Given that he’s a repeat offender, he is lucky that the punishment wasn't worse.

I wasn't surprised to see a five-game suspension for Ryan Reaves. I am well aware that my colleagues here at Editor in Leaf have been calling for Reaves’ absence from the lineup. I must admit, I’ve been hesitant about that. But after Saturday night’s antics, Reaves has to go.

Unfortunately, Ryan Reaves is a liability on the ice. He doesn’t score, his physicality is overrated, and he could have cost the Leafs the game against the Oilers. Had it not been for the wicked penalty kill, the Oilers could have put the Maple Leafs away for good on that five-minute power play.

The time has come for Brad Treliving to do something about Reaves.

There’s not much the Toronto Maple Leafs can do about Reaves at this point, but he doesn't make very much money against the cap so most of his cap-hit can be burrid by sending him to the AHL.

Well, perhaps the San Jose Sharks might want Reaves to skate around protecting Macklin Celebrini. The Leafs have already fleeced the Sharks once, so why not a second time? The Leafs should try at least to see if they can get a bonus draft pick, but the most realistic scenario is that he returns from suspension and the Leafs coach inexplicably keeps dressing him. That is unfortunate, because they will be a much better team with players in their bottom-six who can actually score.