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New York Rangers: Don’t be worried about potential Reaves signing

By John Williams

WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 14: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights takes part in the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Two of the Western Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 14, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 14: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights takes part in the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Two of the Western Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 14, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The New York Rangers have been linked to the Las Vegas Golden Knight’s enforcer. Here’s why this wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

The New York Rangers have been talking to unrestricted free agents for a couple of days and are starting to come up with names to target. Yesterday afternoon, there was a report that Leo Komarov was a target. Last night, the newest name was thrust onto the Broadway rumor mill, his name being Ryan Reaves.

Reaves was traded to the Penguins last offseason from St. Louis, where he spent the first seven years of his NHL career. Reaves was then dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights at the trade deadline, where he was touted as a great locker room addition for a team that went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

Reaves has been known as a tough guy throughout his career. At 6-foot-1, 225 lbs, Reaves is a big fella who is not shy about throwing fists with the opposition. In his eight season career, Reaves has tallied 789 penalty minutes, including six fighting majors in 2017-18, all while he was with Pittsburgh.

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Now, I know what you’re thinking: Why would the Rangers want this guy? Fighters are a dying breed in this game.

Yes, they are. And if the Rangers were going to be a contending team next season, then yes, you have every right to be angry at Jeff Gorton and Co. The problem is, they’re not going to be contending. This is a full rebuild and it’s gonna take time for them to make the playoffs again, let alone contend for the Cup.

Reaves is a solid pro who has a great reputation as a locker room leader in the NHL. For a young team with plenty of open roster spots, especially in their bottom six, there’s no harm in signing Reaves to a one or two year deal.

And say the Rangers are ahead of schedule and look like they could contend, Reaves a guy who they could dish off at the deadline and get a solid return. Look at what he brought back in both the St. Louis-Pittsburgh deal and the Pittsburgh-Vegas deal. In the Blues trade, Reaves brought back a prospect, Oskar Sundqvist, and a first round pick! Vegas traded a 22 year old prospect who got a shot with the Penguins at the end of the season.

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Nothing is official yet, obviously. Nothing can be official till Sunday at noon. But if the Rangers end up with Reaves, don’t overreact.

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