Stunning Data Explains Why Maple Leafs Should Move On From Controversial Player
New data has emerged that shows that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves is not only unable to perform defensively, but he's potentially Toronto's worst ever.
Though the Maple Leafs have had a successful season thus far, there is still a bit of a bumpy road on their way to a Stanley Cup.
Trade talks abound, and there's always the pressure of Mitch Marner's contract right around the corner.
But there's one glaring hole they need to fix and it involves their fourth line, and more specifically Ryan Reaves.
Toronto Needs To Trade Or Cut Ryan Reaves Due To Horrible Performance
Evolving Hockey statistics show some pretty bad former Leafs but upon first glance something is very obvious: Ryan Reaves cannot score goals, even more than anyone in the last 15 years.
xGF% essentially is how often teams score when a player is on the ice, and the fact that Reaves' number is so atrocious shows that the fourth line cannot be relied upon to add any offense (unless you're Steven Lorentz).
It would be excusable if he played solid defense but, he's bad there too.
Reaves has to go back all the way to 2017-18 for when he last played under eight minutes a game.
He has 94 hits, but is on pace to have some of the lowest of his career; especially considering he had seven straight seasons over 200 hits including a career-high 316 in 2019-20.
He's not even fighting, and while he did get that chip off his shoulder recently, it's now nearly February; where has he been for the last 3.5 months?
Yes fighting is down, but there were several opportunities where Reaves could have fought to try and change momentum but decided against it.
Reaves is in his 15th NHL season, and for the majority of it has exclusively fought and been an intimidating presence. But the game has evolved so much that he can't keep up, and without adjusting and improving the other facets of his game, it's starting to feel like a lost cause.
He's also expensive at $1.35M for this season and the next. For the cap starved Leafs, that's a waste of money that can be used elsewhere.
The team needs to seriously reconsider their gameplan and either waive Reaves, trade him, buy him out or otherwise find some way to get his money off the books.
Ryan Reaves is a relic of a former era that has gone by the wayside.
The NHL is about scoring goals, flashy saves, and is constantly evolving, and for Reaves? His time not only in Toronto might be done, but perhaps done for good.
