Keefe explains decision to healthy scratch Ryan Reaves
After being benched for the third period of two of the last three games, Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves finds himself watching from the press box tonight. The Leafs have struggled to find a fit for the 36-year-old, playing him mostly with Noah Gregor and David Kampf on the 4th line. Ahead of the game tonight, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe explained the decision to scratch Reaves.
"We want to give him the night and give him a chance to clear his head a bit. Whether the goals are your fault or not it just piles up as you're pulling pucks out of your net so that can be a challenge for sure."
Reaves is a team-worst minus-11 in 14 games with the Leafs so far this season. The Leafs have elected to replace Reaves with Bobby McMann tonight, who was recalled earlier today in the hopes of finding a fourth line that Keefe can play more than five or six minutes a game.
When Reaves signed his 3-year deal worth $1.3M per season in early July, many questioned the length of the deal given his age and that he doesn't bring much to the team other than toughness. Now, just 14 games into it, Reaves may find himself either sent down to the AHL's Toronto Marlies or on his way out of Toronto altogether.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 11 | 369 ANSWERS Keefe explains decision to healthy scratch Ryan Reaves Has Reaves played his last game as a Leaf? | ||
| Yes | 174 | 47.2 % |
| No | 195 | 52.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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