We figure the Maple Leafs should be able to get by without Ryan Reaves.
And yes, there is a little bit of sarcasm there.
The National Hockey League Department of Player Safety announced on Sunday morning that Reaves will have a hearing at some point during the day, this after Reaves was assessed a match penalty for illegal check to the head when he ran over Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse on Saturday night.
Nurse suffered an upper-body injury, the Oilers said, and he did not return to the game after the incident early in the second period.
The NHL rule book states that any player receiving a match penalty shall be automatically suspended from further competition until commissioner Gary Bettman has ruled on the issue.
Reaves has a history of being called on the carpet, as he has been suspended three times during his NHL career for a total of six games.
With the Leafs not playing until Wednesday at home against the Vegas Golden Knights, there is time for the NHL to come to a decision on punishment for Reaves.
As much as the big winger plays a physical game — he is tied for the Leafs lead in hits with Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz at 44 — giving another player a look on the fourth line won’t put the Leafs in dire straits.
Whether that’s Alex Steeves or another player recalled from the Toronto Marlies, it will be an opportunity for coach Craig Berube to do some lineup exploring.
Reaves’ on-ice contribution is limited to what he does physically. With one assist and seven shots on goal in 16 games, there is nothing on the offensive side.
His looming absence won’t be a detriment to Toronto.
D IS FOR DEFENCE
As Berube gets a handle on his defence corps now that all of the regulars are healthy, we can make a safe assumption.
The pairing of Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev is entrenched.
“I like it a lot,” Berube said. “They’ve done a great job. They have good chemistry together. They defend well with physicality and sticks and blocking shots. They break pucks out under pressure.
“That’s one thing I’ve really noticed with them, is they’re good at absorbing hits and using each other on breakouts and making little plays to get the puck out of our zone. It’s been an important part of the game for me. Teams are coming hard with forecheck, but they do a good job of getting a puck stop and finding a way to get it out.”
The two have played together for the past 11 games, first being partnered on Oct. 26 in Boston against the Bruins.
In the Leafs’ 4-3 overtime win against Edmonton, Tanev had a season-high eight blocks.
There was healthy level of respect for Tanev coming from the Oilers room. They’ve seen plenty of the Toronto native over the years in the Western Conference, given his time in Vancouver, Calgary and Dallas.
“Amazing player,” Oilers winger Zach Hyman said. “Training with him in the summer (with Gary Roberts), I’ve got to know him really well.
“Great person and great guy for their locker room. On the ice, he’s just a warrior. I’m sure you guys have had a taste of it in the first 20 games or so.
“No matter what night it is, he’s blocking shots and doesn’t necessarily need to be the most physical presence, but he is always in the right position, always with a great stick, gets the puck out great, just a really good player.”
The Leafs have been sound overall, but we’re going to be curious to see how it plays out with the rest of the defence.
Jani Hakanpaa’s mobility isn’t great, and having him with Morgan Rielly might not work in the long run. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Timmins have potential together, and right now, all three pairs feature the left-right combination that Berube wants.
Simon Benoit can’t be a healthy scratch forever, though. And there’s Philippe Myers, who is with the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning stint. Matt Benning was already with the Marlies, and Dakota Mermis, another D-man signed for depth, continues to recover after having jaw surgery during training camp.
Myers played in one game with the Leafs before he was sent down.
“Being in this position takes a little bit of maturity,” Myers said. “Over the years I’ve been around, I’m staying positive and hyping the boys up and working my (butt) off in practice.
“That’s all you can do, having that mentality. It has been a grind. They told me to come down here and play some games so I’ll be more ready when I do get in.”
The Leafs have already traded Timothy Liljegren, but further moves in that regard might not be warranted on the blue line. General manager Brad Treliving has to take the position that further injuries are likely.
We suggested to Rielly that we’ve not heard an NHL GM say he has too much depth.
“No, and I don’t think you will,” Rielly said. “I think that’s what you want, right from training camp all the way through.
“It could be challenging for guys to miss games because of depth, but I think as a group, we’re happy with where we are.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Max Domi’s career-long drought without a point has reached 13 games. He didn’t have a great night against the Oilers, registering just one shot on goal and missing on two others. How much the issue that he is playing through has had an impact isn’t clear, but the fact the Leafs play just one game before Saturday, against Vegas on Wednesday, should help him physically … If Mitch Marner is starting overtime for the Leafs, the opposition should take note. Of his four career goals in the extra period, three have come in the first minute. It happened again on Saturday when he scored at 40 seconds against the Oilers. That goal allowed the Leafs to improve to 6-0-1 in their past seven home games versus Edmonton … The Leafs had a full day off on Sunday.
X: @koshtorontosun