Former Toronto Maple Leafs Enforcer Rips Into Ryan Reaves' Character

Coming off an intense preseason matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs, fans had circled their calendars for the regular season opener, anticipating fireworks between Ryan Reaves and Arber Xhekaj. With tensions already running high, a fight seemed like an inevitability, but when the time came around, Reaves declined to drop the gloves, leaving the fans confused. This was pretty surprising, considering that he was considered one of the top enforcers in the league, and many conversations were had amongst the fan base as to why he decided to decline.

A couple of weeks later, the New York Rangers were in town to take on the Leafs. When feisty Rangers winger Matt Rempe was activated for game day, speculation only mounted that Reaves might finally have his first fight of the season. Again, though, despite Rempe's best efforts, Reaves said no. It was the second time in a brief period the veteran enforcer had declined to fight, adding to the question of what exactly was going on with him. You can see last season's fight below.

Former Maple Leafs tough guy Jay Rosehill weighed in on the situation when he appeared on The Leafs Nation's "Leafs Morning Take." Rosehill is of the old-school, no-nonsense variety of hockey player, and thus he found himself pondering aloud why Reaves hadn't been dropping the gloves as of yet this season. Reaves fought seven times in each of the last two seasons, and Rosehill suspected something had to be holding him back. Whether it is a change in Reaves' mindset, a different systematic approach by the team, or something entirely different, one thing is for sure: his absence as an enforcer this season has not gone unnoticed.

While it is early in the year, for a player of his caliber, it's been a strange move on Reaves' part to avoid physical altercations to date. Last season, he had no issue standing up for himself when necessary, sometimes fighting in crucial moments when his team was getting hemmed. Rosehill theorized that Reaves might be gun-shy now because, in those games where the Leafs were getting spanked, the fights didn't turn the tide; or maybe there was another explanation, a coaching suggestion, or even a hurt shoulder, that's telling him to pull back.

But the eyes will be on Ryan Reaves once again as the Maple Leafs prepare to go up against the Columbus Blue Jackets. More specifically, fans will look to him returning to that feisty hockey with the Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier, another enforcer who has yet to record a fight this season. Whether premeditated game plan, physical problem, or psychological mindset, Reaves' next move will be under scrutiny, as his unwillingness has already generated much controversy and discussion in the hockey world.