In Vegas, there is only one man that can give Marc-Andre Fleury a run for his money as the biggest fan-favorite in town and that is Ryan Reaves. He is a big personality, plays hard on every shift, and likes to throw mitts and hits. What’s not to like for the general fan? He is the epitome of excitement. There’s never a dull moment when Reaves takes the ice, so let’s jump and in and look at the big fella.
Ryan Reaves celebrating (USA Today Sports)Name: Ryan Reaves Position: RW Age: 33-years-old Drafted: 2005, 5th Round (156th Overall) Nickname: Reavo, The Grim Reaver, The Muffin Man VGK Since: 2/23/2018 (Traded by Pitt) Contract: $2.775 million AAV (pending UFA)
Biggest Strength:
Together with Carrier, Reaves gets the crowd on their feet at least once or twice a night. Any time he is near a puck, you can audibly hear the home crowd chanting “Reeeeeaaaavvvveeeeesssss… anticipating some fireworks. He has the Golden Knights faithful wrapped around his finger and it’s well-earned due to the passion, energy, and dedication he puts into his job and specifically his role on the team. Like him or hate him, he is useful in more ways than one and his aggressive nature has the ability to make him an invaluable asset to certain clubs.
Biggest Weakness:
When he harnesses that aggressiveness and uses it properly, it’s a thing of beauty. In the case of Evander Kane (SJS), Reaves knows when to push the buttons. He knows when Kane, a similarly tempered man with more puck skill, is ready to explode and he exploits that. He prides himself on getting into other players’ heads and both Kane and Tom Wilson (WSH) can attest to both its effectiveness and its absurdity. When he’s on his game, Reaves is certainly an asset, but that aggressiveness can and has come back and bit the forward in the rear.
He doesn't shy away from the rough stuff (USA Today Sports)2019-20 Season:
If deployed correctly and if he’s able to harness that aggressiveness, Reaves is an asset. The argument comes regarding his cap hit, which is abnormally high for a fourth-line grinder. Guys like Pierre-Edouard Bellemare ($1.8 million, 22 points), Nick Cousins ($1 million, 25 points), and Tomas Nosek ($1 million, 15 points) are doing work on the PK at a lower cost and similar or better production. It’s hard to tell if Reaves will be back next season, but with that cap hit, the market will shrink on the aging physical winger. He plays hard each shift and at 33-years-old is on the back nine of his NHL career.
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