Reaves was one of several Toronto Maple Leafs recruited this summer to be more tough, and he regretted the team’s lack of physical answer to Brad Marchand’s trip of Timothy Liljegren.
The Toronto Maple Leafs held a few meetings after Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand tripped defenseman Timothy Liljegren in the first period of Thursday’s 3-2 shootout loss.
“In real-time, it didn’t look like anything, and in the replay,” Reaves said of his initial reaction to the trip. “I believe you can form your own opinion based on the player.” It didn’t appear to be malicious, but it did appear to have some aim.”
Several Maple Leafs players were seen exchanging words with Marchand after the hit. Reaves stated that one of the things he told Marchand was to get away from the team’s bench.
“It’s just lucky I wasn’t on the ice with him,” Reaves added. “Unfortunately, they had last change, so no shifts against them.” That’s how hockey works.”
Sheldon Keefe was equally dissatisfied with his club’s lack of reaction to Marchand’s trip of Liljegren, who will be sidelined for at least 10 games and 24 days with a high-ankle sprain. However, the Leafs’ head coach disagreed with Reaves’ suggestion that any change advantage played a role.
“that’s less important. “brad marchand isn’t interested in ryan reaves or anyone else in the league,” keefe added. “it’s more about the team’s reaction. there are so many players sporting bruins jerseys that we may make their lives difficult. it’s more about motivating our people.
on saturday, the maple leafs will face the buffalo sabres at scotiabank arena. keefe didn’t spend much time discussing the sabres’ issue following a 5-1 loss to the philadelphia flyers on friday, instead focusing on how his players will respond to standing up for one othe
And while a pushback from the rest of the club was expected from the Maple Leafs, Reaves, in particular, is supposed to bring that enforcer and intimidation presence that was expected of him when Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving signed the player to a three-year, $4.05 million deal this summer.
“We talked about it and addressed it in the room. It’ll be changed going forward.”
