Remember a few years ago when Mike Rupp called Jody Shelley irrelevant? It was during the HBO Series Road to the Winter Classic, and it’s still the meanest chirp I have ever heard. Watching the Bruins and Leafs last night, it’s exactly how I felt about Maple Leaf tough guy Ryan Reaves.
Are You Gonna Chirp All Day, Little Birdy?
I don’t remember at what point it was during the game because, outside of Emily Kaplan interviewing him on the bench, Reavo was pretty much invisible. Reaves mentioned to Kaplan that he was there to “make guys feel taller” and acknowledged he hadn’t played very well as of late. Anyway, at some point during the game, ESPN announcer Steve Levy mentioned a lot of fans were looking for a Milan Lucic and Ryan Reaves throwdown – and how some might be disappointed it didn’t happen.
Count me among the disappointed. After the Bruins went up 2-0, I remarked to myself how it was time for Reaves to start running around. Sure enough, next shift, there’s Reavo. There was a bit of a scrum after the whistle and Reaves was right in the middle. It wasn’t anything crazy. Typical run of the mill after the whistle pleasantries. Feeling vindicated, I said “See! I told you” To myself. After that, there was nothing.
Every Irrelevance
Am I calling Ryan Reaves irrelevant? Absolutely not. He definitely serves a purpose – if someone wants to fight. Did I expect him to run around like an animal last night knowing full well there was no Milan Lucic to keep him in check? You bet I did. I guess in his defense, he knows his role, and without any legitimate dance partner he doesn’t have to play it, but I am truly surprised he didn’t do something that would force Trent Frederic into the role of tough guy for the night.
I was reading something on Sportsnet or TSN…. one of the Canadian pages I follow on Instagram… about the Leafs and a lack of jam in general. They were basically saying with all the hype around the Maple Leafs this season, things haven’t really changed.
There’s no grit to the lineup, and it’s the same guys doing skilled player things all the time. The pundits were pontificating the Leafs would suffer the same fate this season as the versions before them since 1967. Is Reaves irrelevant? No. Did he miss an opportunity to stir the pot and potentially get the Bruins off their game? In my opinion, hell yes. Where was Shorsey when we needed him?
What’s the Definition of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick?
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe called the team out for no response after Marchand and Liljegren went into the boards. I agree. They seemed to not care.