How does Ryan Reaves compare to other Rangers’ enforcers?

This summer, Ryan Reaves joined a New York Rangers team that needed some grit and toughness. Last season, the team’s toughness was limited with only Brendan Smith and Brendan Lemieux the players you could count on to drop the gloves.  The Rangers have had their eyes on Reaves for a while and Chris Drury finally made him a Ranger by signing the free agent this off-season. When the deal was announced, most fans circled the date of the Rangers’ season opener against Tom Wilson and the Washington Capitals.  They had a history.

Would Reaves go after Wilson for his assault on Artemi Panarin last season? Or would he leave well enough alone? The past is in the past? Obviously, nothing ended up going down between the two tough guys.  But that doesn’t mean that Reaves won’t be a game changer for the Rangers this season.

Just back from a lower body injury, he hasn’t dropped the gloves yet, but he has already shown signs of similarities with other enforcers from past Rangers’ teams.

Let’s take a look at how Reaves compares to some of those past enforcers.

Reaves vs Avery

We all know Reaves won’t score goals as often as pest Sean Avery did (not that Avery had 30 goals in a season) and Reaves even said it himself during the preseason. Rangers fans loved the chaos on the ice that Avery caused during his two tenures with the team from 2007 through 2012.

While most remember him as a pest and an agitator, he was as much an enforcer as well. Avery led the league in penalty minutes twice with Los Angeles and was the Rangers’ leader in penalty minutes twice with 12 fighting majors in 2010-11.

Once Reaves is prompted to do so, he can be as irritable and as entertaining as Avery was. Reaves is also a much bigger and stronger athlete than Avery was, so he will be able to use his big body more effectively on the ice.

Reaves vs Orr

Colton Orr was probably one of the best enforcers the Rangers have ever had. By that, I mean that he didn’t play dirty, he stuck up for his teammates when necessary, and he rarely lost a fight. He was a Ranger from 2005-2009 and was one of the most beloved Rangers ever.  Ranger fans will never forget when Orr knocked out Flyers tough guy Todd Fedoruk.  Click here to see it.

Reaves compares to Orr by also being a big body presence on the ice and also sticking up for his teammates when need be. In the past, Reaves has shown that he too is a strong fighter. He has won practically all of his fights in the past and you can be sure he will be the first one to stick up for any of his teammates.

Reaves vs Domi

After being drafted by the Maple Leafs and playing four games in Toronto, the Rangers stole Tie Domi in a trade and he played two and a half seasons in New York. I’m almost positive that every hockey fan has heard of this guy. He did not put up many points in his career, (245 points in 1,020 games), but he for sure made opponents think twice before they made a dirty cross check or tried to hit a Rangers’ star player.  Although only 5’8″, Domi backed down from no one as in this bout with Bob Probert, one of the toughest to ever play in the NHL.

Domi was a character, remembered for his miming wearing a heavyweight title belt or the way he rode his stick like a brookstick after scoring the rare goal.  At 6’2″, Reaves doesn’t compare to Domi in the size department, but he does compare to him with putting fear in opponents. Like Domi, Reaves will always not put up those points, but not to worry, he will make an impact in other ways.

Reaves vs Kocur

1994 Stanley Cup Champion Joey Kocur was one of the toughest enforcers there ever was. Reaves compares to Kocur in size for one thing. Both are over 6’0 and over 220 pounds. One of the most feared fighters in the NHL, Kocur was traded to New York in 1991 and he served as the protector for players like Brian Leetch and Sergei Zubov.  Kocur punches were devastating.

While fighting in the NHL is nowhere near where it was in the 1990s, Ryan Reaves is feared on the ice just as much as Kocur was.

The verdict

Reaves has already won the hearts of Rangers fans and they hope he is the solution to a problem that has dogged the team for years, a lack of toughness. Over the last decade, the Rangers have brought in a series of enforcers including Derek Boogaard, Donald Brashear, Brandon Prust, Derek Dorsett, Arron Asham, Cody McLeod, and Micheal Haley.

None of his predecessors over the last ten years provided what Reaves brings to the rink. Like those great  enforcers of the past, opponents will think twice before they try to stir the pot. Reaves will be the first one Gerard Gallant will put out as soon as things start getting nasty. He will go down as one of the best enforcers the Rangers have ever had.

These are some of the more recent enforcers to skate for the Rangers.  Do you have a personal favorite?  Please share your memories below.