The Ryan Reaves experience isn’t going well for the Maple Leafs so far

It’s easy to imagine that Ryan Reaves confronting Brad Marchand over the injury to Timothy Liljegren in Boston would have justified the Maple Leafs’ decision to give the 36-year-old a three-year contract in the summer. However, an altercation with Marchand would not change the concerning reality of Reaves’ performance on the ice during his first 10 games as a Leaf. In short, it has been a rather bleak experience so far.

The Leafs have been outscored 6-0 with Reaves on the ice this season, and opponents have controlled 64 percent of the expected goals. Reaves has yet to score a point and has only managed four shots on goal out of six attempts. The presence of Reaves on fourth lines has been detrimental for the Leafs, resulting in poor possession and a lack of offensive production.

Initially, the line consisting of David Kämpf centering Reaves and Noah Gregor was disastrous. The Leafs were out-chanced 16-7, outscored 3-0, and had only 27 percent of the expected goals. This forced Kämpf to take on more offensive zone faceoffs early on. The subsequent line combinations featuring Reaves did not yield better results, with the Leafs winning only 32 percent of the expected goals.

Thus far, the fourth lines for the Leafs have been ineffective, generating minimal offense and struggling defensively. Reaves’ lack of speed and skill has been a central issue contributing to these problems. With Reaves on the ice, the Leafs have been forced to play catch-up, similar to the situation with former Leaf Colton Orr in the past. To protect Reaves, head coach Sheldon Keefe has prioritized offensive zone faceoffs for him, but it has come at the expense of relying on other lines for defensive purposes.

According to the NHL’s new stats portal, Reaves has spent over 43 percent of his ice time in the defensive zone, slightly above the league average for a forward at even strength. Considering Reaves’ age (turning 37 in January) and his performance at the start of the previous season with the New York Rangers, it is not surprising to see similar struggles this season. During his first 12 games with the Rangers, Reaves was outscored 6-1 and had a bleak expected goals percentage of around 32 percent.

The Leafs were hoping for improvement from Reaves, expecting him to contribute offensively and bring physicality to the team while maintaining a neutral impact on the game. Unfortunately, Reaves has been detrimental to the Leafs’ attack, especially from the bottom half of the forward group. Additionally, his supposed intimidation factor has not proven to be significant.

Keefe’s desire for sustained offensive zone time from all four lines has been challenging to achieve, partly due to the underperformance of the third line and the Reaves line. Reaves’ presence has halted any momentum, making it difficult for the Leafs to generate sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The signing of Reaves initially seemed insignificant in terms of the salary cap, but it has already led to the team sacrificing more valuable players for flexibility.

As the regular season progresses, Reaves’ presence in the lineup could pose even more problems in the playoffs. In the past, Keefe has scratched similar players like Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds. However, it remains to be seen whether he can do the same with Reaves, considering he was a significant offseason target for the new Leafs GM, Brad Treliving.

Burying Reaves’ contract in the minors is a potential solution, as it would free up a significant portion of the cap. However, this scenario seems highly unlikely given Treliving’s apparent value in Reaves. Ultimately, the Leafs may have no choice but to hope for a significant improvement in Reaves’ performance.

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Sarah Anderson

Sarah Anderson dives into the fast-paced world of NHL hockey. Her coverage includes game analysis, player spotlights, and the latest news from the ice. Sarah’s dedication to the sport ensures that hockey enthusiasts stay informed about the NHL’s thrilling action.