There’s actually a debate round whether or not or not he stays an asset within the NHL, however that hasn’t stopped Toronto Maple Leafs’ enforcer Ryan Reaves from taking part in in his 900th profession NHL common season recreation on Wednesday night time towards the Dallas Stars.
Maple Leafs ahead Ryan Reaves is skating in his 900th profession NHL recreation tonight.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) December 19, 2024
The 37-year-old who has suited up for six groups over his NHL profession — together with the Maple Leafs, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues — has performed the final 72 video games with the Maple Leafs with 4 objectives and 7 factors over that span.
Initially drafted by the Blues within the fifth spherical, 156th general, in 2005, Reaves has been one of many extra feared enforcers within the recreation since he debuted in 2010-11. Over that point, he’s amassed 63 objectives and 136 factors within the 900 video games performed, together with a career-high 9 objectives and 20 factors in 80 video games for the Golden Knights in 2018-19.
He’s additionally racked up 1,095 penalty minutes over that span, reaching as excessive as 126 in 2013-14 with the Blues.
Reaves has seen his function diminish over the previous few seasons, however continues to be a robust character for groups becoming a member of his group within the hallway earlier than video games and participating and main group occasions in every of his stops throughout his NHL journey.
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Reaves is the 563rd NHL participant to achieve 900 video games performed and simply the 14th participant from the 2005 NHL Draft to achieve the milestone.
If nothing else, Reaves can hold his head on the truth that he has been one of the vital constant bodily presences over the previous 15 seasons. It’s a stat they haven’t at all times documented, nonetheless, within the time that they’ve, Reaves ranks seventh general in hits with 3,032.
Signing with the Maple Leafs was a part of a shift by the franchise to usher in a more durable, extra bodily presence to play alongside their stars like Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews and whereas he’s solely suited up for 72 video games over the previous two seasons, his presence within the room has helped the group develop extra of a hard-nosed mentality.
Even when Max Pacioretty signed this offseason with the Maple Leafs, he commented on what it means to have Reaves as a teammate once more saying that his former Golden Knights’ teammate was one of the best guys to have around.
As for whether or not or not he can attain the 1,000-game plateau, that may rely upon whether or not or not he can proceed to play a robust function in an NHL lineup and what route the league strikes in.
