Maple Leafs Silence Eager Ryan Reaves From Speaking Out About Suspension

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Chris Gerics
November 19, 2024 (10:27 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have told Ryan Reaves to keep quiet regarding his suspension, and the enforcer is none too pleased about it.

During the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, Ryan Reaves of the Maple Leafs laid an illegal hit to the head of the Oilers' Darnell Nurse.

The hit sent Nurse out of the game, and Reaves was ejected then later suspended 5 games for his actions.

Well safe to say head coach Craig Berube was upset with the decision, his teammates were frustrated with the decision, and Reaves is upset too.

He'd love to tell his side, but the Maple Leafs are trying to keep him quiet.

Heading into the locker room after practicing with the team on Tuesday, Reaves was swarmed by media looking to get his side of the story and ask why he laid the dangerous hit.

However, the Maple Leafs media relations team stepped in and basically waved them off and said "No questions". It was frustrating for Reaves who will accept his punishment but would at least like his say on the matter.

Reaves has dealt with this previously from Toronto as well, as he he related to Sportsnet's Luke Fox last season about his frustration about being kept out, even when healthy:

"I mean, it's not fun. Nobody likes watching hockey when your team's going out to battle. I definitely hate it. But there's nothing really more I can do. I don't know exactly what the situation is or what's going to happen. I guess just stay patient and find out," Reaves told Fox in January.

Reaves is a team-player first and foremost. He knows his role isn't to score but to spark the team and hype them up; something he still loves to do whether he plays or not.

Craig Berube appreciates Reaves, and if his basically secure spot in the lineup isn't enough evidence, he loves his character in the locker room:

"Yeah, Reavo's a great team guy. We all know that. Been around a long time and he's great to have on a team, I'll tell you that," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said.

"I put him on D today, just to get eight D in there. I think it's good for him, too. A lot more puck touches back there and moving the puck and things like that, and we've got to keep him ready for when he's back."

Reaves wasn't having the strongest season with only one goal and no fights, but he did provide a relentless engine when he was out there for his limited time. Even if he's not the fastest, he plays with his heart on his sleeve.

GM Brad Treliving also stuck up for his enforcer, calling out how Reaves was not looking to hurt Nurse:

"First of all, you never want to see anybody injured and it was one of those where there's no doubt in my mind, there's no intent on Ryan's part. He's going in to make a hit. It's a hockey play that goes wrong, right?

It's, if you look, and there's been lots of talk, I know, but he leads with a stick. He's going in to forecheck, and there's contact that's made. It's unfortunate and we accept it. There was an earlier suspension with (Tanner) Jeannot, I think, earlier in the week where we thought it was three games, maybe that, tying to that one.

I'm not going to sit here and bicker about the game here and there. Like I said, at no point do I think Ryan had any intent for that to happen. It didn't end up the way we wanted to, and I understand the league's position."

With Reaves out it will be up to the trio of Connor Dewar, Steven Lorentz and Alex Steeves to carry the fourth line, as Craig Berube desperately hopes they can spark the bottom six's production.

Ryan Reaves should be able to talk about his situation, and the Maple Leafs telling him to keep quiet is only going to harbor resentment.

Just let Reaves talk. The league took away his games, don't take away his voice.