Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been issued a five-game suspension following an illegal hit to the head of Edmonton Oilers’ defenseman Darnell Nurse. This decision, announced by the NHL's Department of Player Safety, marks the fourth suspension in Reaves’ career, and notably, his third for delivering high hits.
The incident unfolded during the second period of a tightly contested game between the Maple Leafs and the Oilers. Reaves delivered a shoulder hit, with his technique placing Nurse's head as the principal point of contact. This kind of head-targeted strike is explicitly condemned in the NHL, where player safety and preventing potential injuries are of paramount concern. After the hit, Nurse, who has been vital to the Oilers this season with two goals and nine points over 18 games, was unable to return to action for the remainder of the contest.
"Reaves closes in on Nurse and delivers a high, hard check that cuts across the front of Nurse's body, missing his core and picking his head, making it the main point of contact on his body where such head contact was avoidable," the Department of Player Safety reviewed. Such incidents have increasingly drawn focus in recent years, as the league continues to battle the long-term effects of head injuries among its players.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a prominent member of the Oilers, expressed his disappointment following the game: "It's a dangerous play. [Reaves] has got to know that Nursey doesn't see him coming and choose the right path there, and he doesn't. It's tough to see one of your teammates on the ice like that." The sentiment in his words captures not only the immediate concern for Nurse's well-being but also the broader implications such unchecked aggressiveness can have on the game.
For Reaves, the consequences extend beyond mere disciplinary action. His suspension entails a forfeiture of $35,156.25 in salary. The financial hit compounds the competitive setback as Reaves, who averages just over seven minutes of ice time per game with a single assist this season, is sidelined for crucial matchups. Despite his limited on-ice contributions, the presence of an enforcer like Reaves often influences game dynamics, particularly in physical confrontations that can shift momentum.
While the Oilers pushed the game into overtime, they ultimately fell 4-3 to the Maple Leafs, missing the defensive prowess that Nurse typically contributes, given his near-21-minute average ice time per game. His absence highlights once more the significant impact losing a key player can have in the high-stakes environment of an NHL match.
Ryan Reaves is expected to make his return to the lineup on December 4th when the Maple Leafs face off against the Nashville Predators. Until then, both the team and the player will have to adjust to his absence, a task easier said than done given the high-stakes waiting for them in every subsequent matchup.
This event underscores the ongoing challenges facing the NHL as it navigates player safety against the rugged backdrop of professional hockey—a sport inherently built on speed and contact. With each controversial hit, the league inches closer to refined policies and stricter enforcement, all in the pursuit of balancing player protection with the raw excitement that has long defined the game. As the season unfolds, eyes will remain on figures like Reaves, whose style of play stands at the crux of this evolving conversation.