Player Safety Throws the Book at Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves, Announces Lengthy Suspension
The NHL's Department of Player Safety has made an example of Maple Leafs winger Ryan Reaves, slapping him with a lengthy suspension for his hit on Darnell Nurse.
During the second period of last night's Oilers/Maple Leafs game on Hockey Night in Canada, Ryan Reaves allowed his energy to get the best of him when he took a healthy run at Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, who was attempting to look for an outlet pass as he carried the puck out from behind his net.
Reaves did not leave his feet, but did make significant head contact as he followed through and finished his check hard on Nurse, who was sent crashing to the ice in a world of hurt and with what appears to have been a large cut over his eye.
Reaves made it a point to visit the Oilers' dressing room shortly after being ejected from the game to check on Nurse and to offer a sincere apology for the hit, which was a respectable course of action to have taken.
After it was announced on Sunday that Reaves would have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety, everyone knew that a suspension was coming down. The only question was regarding how long the ban would be. Well, the gavel has come down and the suspension is a lengthy one. Reaves has been suspended for 5 games. The full breakdown can be found in the link below.
Reaves will have the opportunity to appeal the suspension if he and the NHLPA would like to see a reduced suspension, but my gut tells me that the repeat offender might simply take this one on the chin and move on, knowing full well that the hit was a bad one.
The Leafs only play 3 games in the span of the next 10 days, so it may be a little bit of concern for Reaves, who will now be out of the lineup until early December. If Reaves does indeed serve the full 5-game suspension, he won't be eligible to return until December 4th against the Nashville Predators. Reaves will forfeit more than $35,000 in salary as a result of the suspension.
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