2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
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Bennett with those sneaky bodycheck face punches... needs to think twice before doing so.
In reality, I think guys like Bennett will do whatever it takes to win even take a beating from Reeves if need be. At least Reavo can "conflict pain" with little consequence if he gets suspended. I was so livid when Machand took out Liligren with no consequence with Reeves in the lineup with a 3-year contract in his pocket.
In reality, I think guys like Bennett will do whatever it takes to win even take a beating from Reeves if need be. At least Reavo can "conflict pain" with little consequence if he gets suspended. I was so livid when Machand took out Liligren with no consequence with Reeves in the lineup with a 3-year contract in his pocket.
bustaheims
Well-known member
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - having Reaves in the lineup didn't stop the Bruins from taking liberties with the Leafs last spring, and it won't stop anyone from doing the same this coming spring. The guys who have a tendency to deliver cheap shots will keep delivering cheap shots, knowing that they can goad Reaves into taking dumb penalties. They know he can't catch up to any of their star players - and, they also know, if he's on the ice against those guys, their team will tilt the ice against the Leafs.
If I were facing the Leafs, I'd want them to dress Reaves. I'd be happy to see them waste a roster spot on a guy who doesn't contribute offensively, is ineffective on the forecheck due to his poor skating, and struggles defensively. You don't negate the Bennett's of the league by playing Reaves. You do it by getting them to put more energy into their sideshow antics instead of the ways they can actually contribute to their team's success. You have them take the dumb penalties. You have them running around like a loose cannon. You get them off their game and make them a distraction instead of an effective pest. You get under their skin instead of letting them get under yours. You don't waste a spot in the lineup on a guy who doesn't contribute anything in his 8 minutes of ice time.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Well-known member
The real question is, do Berube and Brad see that Reaves is done, or do they keep the blinders on and keep him on the roster?
bustaheims
Well-known member
My gut tells me that, if Grebs can cement a spot in the lineup, that might be what pushes Reaves out. He's a super-pest in the making.
A 4th line of Grebenkin-Dewar-Lorentz would be super annoying to play against - solid on the forecheck, responsible defensively, and with some sneaky offence. Decent size on the wings, too.
They're in the business of winning. If Reaves can't help them as much with that as someone else, he won't be around.
Their leash is likely shorter than the one Dubas-Keefe had. With the dman contracts for 30+, their window is probably fairly limited.
Highlander
Well-known member
It's figuring a balance of what he brings to the team against his diminished playing skills. Only Berube can decide this, but if I had my way he would be waived. He looked really slow last night. And it looks like the team as a whole is playing a lot tougher. Hell for Marner to get into the scrum is real new stuff. McCabe is no slouch either. Grenbenkin if he stick looks like a pugilist as well.
Ozzie
Well-known member
I know Reaves cannot stop the opposition from taking liberties, and no one really can.
But there is no comparison to the ass pounding bitch slaps of liberties that the Florida Panthers took against the Leafs in 2023 playoffs (and even Tampa in prior seasons) to what the Bruins did in 2024. Bruins were pussy cats compared to the WWE clothelines and elbows on Knies which busted up his face and head, eliminated him, and even has had impact on his career with concussions.
Watching Matthews get rag dolled by the opposing team (it happened multiple times), and even beaten up by other elite players (Stamkos)....... seeing Marner get bitch slapped at the end of the game by (Tkachuk) and also rag dolled in a prior game.......Nylander afraid to go into corners etc....and I would see Tavares afraid to even look at guys like Maroon when he was goading Tavares from the Tampa bench.......was a totally different situation compared to today.
I think people have short memories of that Florida series. I would say it was embarassing. And the path to the Cup in the East goes through Florida. There is $57m of high performance talent on the Leaf roster plus some young rising stars to protect out there.
So we can all agree to disagree but the final arbiters are Berube and Treliving and they see value in Reavo.
Arn
Well-known member
So you’re saying that opposition players took liberties when Reaves was around… but now Reaves is still around the opposition will still take liberties because “you can’t stop them”? And that’s “effective”?
So highly valued by the coach that he gets about 6 minutes a night, contributes nothing to any special Team and can’t be relied on to ice when a game is close or in the third period.
So highly valued by the coach that he gets about 6 minutes a night, contributes nothing to any special Team and can’t be relied on to ice when a game is close or in the third period.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Well-known member
Reaves just sat out five games and they were fine.
ZBBM
Well-known member
No, it isn't. The players wear safety equipment to prevent injuries, which produce pain. The point of hitting is to check a player, not injure them.
Inflicting injury is not a legitimate objective of any civilized game. It may happen incidentally, but it can't be the objective. When he says he's going out there to inflict pain, it means he's trying to injure someone (even if he doesn't think that's what it means). It doesn't matter whether the injury is slight enough to "shake off" or whatever.
The most charitable reading of his comment is that he didn't REALLY mean it. In any case, he shouldn't have said it.
bustaheims
Well-known member
Also, the Bruins not getting up to the same antics as Florida had nothing to do with Reaves. It's because the Bruins are a different team. They aren't built the same way the Panthers were - and, still, they took their share of cheap shots. Matthews was body-slammed behind the net by McAvoy, for Pete's sake. They did everything that they wanted to do with impunity, Reaves or no Reaves. The only thing that will change that is the Leafs, as a team, pushing back, taking control of games, and putting the other team on their heels. Again, absolutely nothing to do with Reaves. His impact is practically zero. Take him out of the lineup, off the roster, out of the league, whatever, and absolutely nothing changes in terms of teams taking liberties or not. The enforcer arms race is a thing of the past and should remain there. Contending teams have no spot for players who can't contribute with their play, and that's what Reaves is - a non-contributor - regardless of how his coach or GM feel about him.
bustaheims
Well-known member
Exactly. The point of a body check is to separate the player from the puck. That's why you can only legally hit the puck carrier. Do some hits cause pain? Sure, but if that's your goal, you're not checking effectively. You're just going to end up putting yourself out of position and at risk of looking silly (as we've seen time and time again).
With the 2023-24 season on the line in the playoffs, Reaves was a healthy scratch for games 6 & 7.
Aside from his 5 game suspension, Reaves has been a healthy scratch 3 times this season.
He's on the bubble.
Highlander
Well-known member
There is talk about Kadri coming home. Sorry lets keep him as an ex-pat. Knuckle head cost us at least one playoff win.
Multiple playoffs, and a COL playoff suspension too... but a Stanley Cup. $7M until 2030 is a lot different than his previous $4.5M cap hit. Doesn't he kind of suck defensively? I am a pass too.
With Hakanpaa on IR until Dec 18th, Mermis can return from his conditioning stint on Dec 10th and delay a decision on him unless they want his roster spot for a forward.
Focusing on the forwards on the roster:
Tomorrow, Domi & Pacioretty are expected back. With Hakanpaa on IR, roster is currently at 22
If Pacioretty and Domi return tomorrow, someone has to go to get them down to 23 on the roster
McMann's scheduled return of Dec 10th will force another roster decision.