Ryan Reaves is heading back to the minors, and this time the veteran tough guy isn’t staying quiet about it.
The Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer, one of the last true “tough guys” left in today’s NHL, has been sent down to the American Hockey League for the second time this season.
“My role is a little different than a lot of guys on this team,” Reaves said in early February, before his latest demotion. “I may not play big minutes or special teams, but I try to be the guy who keeps the room light.”
At 37, Reaves has made his living being hockey’s equivalent of a heavyweight boxer – more focused on protecting teammates than scoring goals.
He’s played just 35 games for the Leafs this season, picking up two assists along the way.
But his impact has always been more about what doesn’t show up on the scoresheet. Reaves believes team chemistry matters just as much as talent.
“The best teams I’ve been on are the ones that like to run together and have a really good time together and laugh together,” he said. “Teams that can make fun of each other without it getting sensitive – that’s really important for winning.”
The Leafs’ decision comes down to dollars and cents. With a salary of $1.35 million per year through 2025, Reaves became too expensive for a team looking to make moves before the trade deadline.
His career numbers tell the story of an old-school enforcer: 137 points and exactly 1,100 penalty minutes in 912 NHL games. That’s more fights than goals by a wide margin.
The game may be changing, but Reaves has left his mark on the NHL – even if his time with the Leafs appears to be winding down.
