The Toronto Maple Leafs ought to gown enforcer Ryan Reaves in Sport 2 in opposition to the Florida Panthers.
This assertion just isn’t supposed to be a gimmick to draw consideration. It’s a sensible necessity following the Panthers’ “bodily” type of play proven in Sport 1 on Monday night time at Scotiabank Enviornment.
Particularly, the play by which Sam Bennett laid a unclean hit on netminder Anthony Stolarz is a first-rate instance of how the Panthers are unafraid to resort to less-than-sportsmanlike play to counteract the Maple Leafs’ well-rounded crew.
Right here’s a take a look at Bennett’s hit on Stolarz:
The scenario warranted quick retaliation from somebody prepared to drop the gloves to defend their goalie.
However because it stands, the Leafs don’t have the kind of participant that may go toe-to-toe with notable agitators like Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk, and infamous pest Brad Marchand.
Getting Ryan Reaves into the lineup solves that scenario. Reaves is the kind of participant who can come into the lineup and drop the gloves if want be. Furthermore, his presence calls for respect from the opposition.
Whereas the Leafs have loads of powerful prospects on the crew, none of them examine to Reaves. With out Reaves, the Maple Leafs lack a pugnacious factor that may pushback in conditions similar to this one.
Making a case for the Maple Leafs to insert Ryan Reaves into lineup in opposition to Panthers
Sadly for Ryan Reaves, he turned expendable this season as his lack of offensive upside pushed him additional down the Maple Leafs’ depth chart.
The crew positioned Reaves on waivers in early March this yr to clear a roster spot for incoming gamers acquired on the commerce deadline.
Reaves performed in three video games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies after clearing waivers. Nonetheless, the Leafs recalled Reaves to the large membership as soon as the playoffs started and the wage was now not a difficulty. That scenario implies that Reaves could possibly be inserted into the lineup if want be.
If Craig Berube chooses to decorate Reaves, it must be on the fourth line with Scott Laughton at heart. Nonetheless, doing so could be on the expense of both Calle Jarnkrok or Steve Lorentz.
The likeliest casualty could be Lorentz as Jarnkrok is a precious piece. Furthermore, inserting Reaves would imply shortening the Leafs’ bench as the sport wears on, probably shedding a complete line.
Maybe Berube inserts Ryan Reaves in Sport 2 simply to ship a message to the Panthers, leaving him off the ice for the remainder of the sequence. However given the way in which issues are going, getting Reaves on the ice could possibly be a stable possibility to contemplate for the rest of the sequence.
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Edited by Nestor Quixtan