R1: Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)

[Ozzie]

This is EXACTLY why signing Reaves was a Pro move (plus beefing up the rest of the squad).

First, Reavo is a deterrent that never needs to be deployed in a series. There will always be a bottom line for selfish nasty bastards on what they can do to Leaf players while he is in the holster.....displayed like a Sherif at a Saloon. You can leave the weapon in the holster. I think Ottawa damage could have been way worse than it was..... comparing the Battle of Florida.

Second, if someone like Bennett or Ekblad or Tkachuk or others do cross the line.... a Wilson style hit on Carrier (clean but devastating) or a Reaves style hit on Darnell Nurse where there is a suspension will change the tide of the game.... and even potentially eliminate a player on the opposing side. No one cares if Reaves gets a 5 game suspension.

The NHL created this atmosphere where elite guys and goalies need protection. Wise men like Treliving had the foresight to deal with this in multiple ways.

Third...... it's now obvious to me that the Leafs get longer suspensions than other franchises, so having a throw away guy like Reaves to eat a multi game suspension beats losing Benoit or McCabe for a few games. That would really hurt Leafs D Core.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

This is EXACTLY why signing Reaves was a Pro move (plus beefing up the rest of the squad).

First, Reavo is a deterrent that never needs to be deployed in a series. There will always be a bottom line for selfish nasty bastards on what they can do to Leaf players while he is in the holster.....displayed like a Sherif at a Saloon. You can leave the weapon in the holster. I think Ottawa damage could have been way worse than it was..... comparing the Battle of Florida.

Second, if someone like Bennett or Ekblad or Tkachuk or others do cross the line.... a Wilson style hit on Carrier (clean but devastating) or a Reaves style hit on Darnell Nurse where there is a suspension will change the tide of the game.... and even potentially eliminate a player on the opposing side. No one cares if Reaves gets a 5 game suspension.

The NHL created this atmosphere where elite guys and goalies need protection. Wise men like Treliving had the foresight to deal with this in multiple ways.

Third...... it's now obvious to me that the Leafs get longer suspensions than other franchises, so having a throw away guy like Reaves to eat a multi game suspension beats losing Benoit or McCabe for a few games. That would really hurt Leafs D Core.

What about the guy that elbowed Tavares in the head in OT the last game? Is he at home pissing his pants?

 

[bustaheims]

Oh yeah. Reaves is doing a great job keeping other teams in check from the pressbox.

The reason the Leafs-sens series hasn't been more physical is that, outside of Chuckles and Cousins, the sens don't have guys who excel at playing a heavily physical game. When the Leafs faceoff against the Panthers or the Bolts, I guarantee you there will no toning down the physicality because of the "threat" Reaves might dress. In fact, if anything, they'd want the Leafs to waste a spot in the lineup on a guy who can no longer contribute at the NHL level.