Ryan Reaves

[Suwanee88]

came here to see what u knowledgable folks thought..more I see bout this the more I like..dude is tough bad ass!...watching pens in playoffs I kept wondering where our bad asses were to kick some ass and stop the mauling of sid!! I welcome this cat! dude looks fast too when needed.. I bet he turns into good scorer on pens instead of the laboring st louis offense too.like some here suggested I bet sully sid and gino all exspressed we need a bad hombre to help out at times! should be fun to watch!!

I think it's also important to note that we had to get physical to beat Ottawa, so Reaves can help us be a better balanced team.

[Donnie Brasco]

You guys have a ton of of faith that bones or Cullen resigns? Not me. I think Cullen is done and bones hasn't gotten paid in his NHL career and a team like NyR has a severe need for a guy like him. Heck even LV might throw a ton of cash at him. This is very concerning for me, especially when Sid and Geno aren't really the bastions of health

[Donnie Brasco]

came here to see what u knowledgable folks thought..more I see bout this the more I like..dude is tough bad ass!...watching pens in playoffs I kept wondering where our bad asses were to kick some ass and stop the mauling of sid!! I welcome this cat! dude looks fast too when needed.. I bet he turns into good scorer on pens instead of the laboring st louis offense too.like some here suggested I bet sully sid and gino all exspressed we need a bad hombre to help out at times! should be fun to watch!!

I think it's also important to note that we had to get physical to beat Ottawa, so Reaves can help us be a better balanced team.

Again, this guy is Kunitzs replacement at a fraction of the price

[jeemie]

You guys have a ton of of faith that bones or Cullen resigns? Not me. I think Cullen is done and bones hasn't gotten paid in his NHL career and a team like NyR has a severe need for a guy like him. Heck even LV might throw a ton of cash at him. This is very concerning for me, especially when Sid and Geno aren't really the bastions of health

I have faith in the front office to get done what they need to get done because they haven't let me down yet. They'll find the centers they need.

I don't think Cullen is done. I think he could perform at a very good level, for one-two more years AT LEAST. He showed that much to me in the Finals. Maybe HE wants to retire, but he can still play.

[COR-TEN]

After watching the clips, Reaves reminded me of this :

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47VyKzcUt_Q[/youtube]

Great doc, if you haven't already seen it.

I didn't look for vids of Reaves actually 'playing' hockey.

[bradshaw2ben]

I'm seeing a lot of skill for a big man known for enforcing. He can skate, and-- when given opportunities with the puck, he has a terrific slap shot and a deadly, quick release snapper. He's been playing as a 4th liner-- but if he gets a chance to play with the Sids-Genos-Kessel-Guentzels-Shearys of the world, he can score.

[bradshaw2ben]

came here to see what u knowledgable folks thought..more I see bout this the more I like..dude is tough bad ass!...watching pens in playoffs I kept wondering where our bad asses were to kick some ass and stop the mauling of sid!! I welcome this cat! dude looks fast too when needed.. I bet he turns into good scorer on pens instead of the laboring st louis offense too.like some here suggested I bet sully sid and gino all exspressed we need a bad hombre to help out at times! should be fun to watch!!

I think it's also important to note that we had to get physical to beat Ottawa, so Reaves can help us be a better balanced team.

Again, this guy is Kunitzs replacement at a fraction of the price

and the bolded is exactly what I thought upon hearing this news. I think he might have more offensive skill than Kunitz at this point of their respective careers.

[Legacy User]

I posted this already, but here's a reminder of what Reaves can do -- Not many "enforcers" can skate and score like this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FADQPwGKj-0[/youtube]

PS: THAT SCORING PLAY COMES AGAINST SCHULTZ/MURRAY -- not chopped liver!

[Legacy User]

You guys have a ton of of faith that bones or Cullen resigns? Not me. I think Cullen is done and bones hasn't gotten paid in his NHL career and a team like NyR has a severe need for a guy like him. Heck even LV might throw a ton of cash at him. This is very concerning for me, especially when Sid and Geno aren't really the bastions of health

I have faith in the front office to get done what they need to get done because they haven't let me down yet. They'll find the centers they need.

I don't think Cullen is done. I think he could perform at a very good level, for one-two more years AT LEAST. He showed that much to me in the Finals. Maybe HE wants to retire, but he can still play.

Agree with Jeemie - FO will do what they see as necessary and they will get it done.

No, I have little confidence that Cullen/Bonino will be back.

But I had NO confidence in Sundquist as the 3rd line center.

I see Carter Rowney as 4th line Center for now -- and we need a 3rd line C -- plenty of time to find one.

We found Bonino previously - we can find his replacement too. It shouldn't be that hard, just as it wasn't that hard to find Bonino in the first place.

[bradshaw2ben]

I think Bonino is a HUGE part of the TEAM fabric. I wouldn't be surprised if he is back.

[BethlehemSteel]

Just to be fair yooous guys sure love the goons

This is a "goon" that can also actually play.

Never going to score a lot of goals, but is always where he needs to be.

Dave Schultz scored 115 goal in 5 minor league seasons

Scored 20 in 73-74 champ season


.....in before "I know I know"

[BethlehemSteel]

Oh and one more thing from this hockey purist

Many kudos to Sullivan.....he's a gem

[Legacy User]

Absolutely love the trade! He will become a fan favorite the first time he punishes an opposing player for fucking with Crosby. Look for that to happen right out of the gate to send teams a message that messing with Crosby gets your ass kicked. With that said, I firmly believe in eye for an eye. If the other team wants to fuck with Crosby, have Reaves knock their #1 guy the fuck out!

[Legacy User]

to hacksaw..no way suban plays that shit with Crosby in finals if reaves around..thats huge.. reaves will skate in and fuck his ass up..one way or another.. subans head will be on a swivel. that helps pens.. that helps sid.. so what if in blowout game ; win or lose this guy pummels their guys. I love it. helps pens with opponents thinking about his ass blasting them.
I think this guy will surprise us scoring..with our weapons all ready he can be a force..

[alancac98]

My official take on what we will see:

Knowing Sully likes his guys to just "play", I don't think a whole lot is going to change. I don't think we will see Reaves step on the ice and immediately go after someone unless the activity is rather egregious. With Reaves speed and size, I think he has the ability to float up and down the lines in order to give a physical element to the Pens game. Do expect him to charge in around the net when the whistle blows. This is where he will earn minutes for the team. He will disrupt all of the hacking, cross checking, face washing once the whistle stops play. I also wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him at times in front of the goalie on power plays - a guy that big and tough in front of opposing goalies makes the D's job that much harder. Sully will train him to be smart about his play until he gives the command and sets him loose. Reaves will earn his minutes by playing smart but tough physical hockey in control of himself. this will be Sully's approach with him. Reaves can skate, has good hands, plays the full length of the ice very well, and has a quick release on the shot. Yes, he's a bigger, badder version of Kunitz - but with more speed, nearly twice as big, and is a true heavyweight should the gloves drop! We'll see a different Reaves on the ice for the Penguins as Sully will mold him into exactly what this team needs.

[Legacy User]

Reaves has been evolving in that direction over the years -- He doesn't fight nearly as much any more - I think I read that he had only 6 fights last year.
Reaves is definitely not an "enforcer" like Sestito, who is solely a fighter. Reaves can actually skate and has earned more and more ice time over the years.
I can totally see Sully working him into the 3rd/4th line rotation and expecting him to skate and make plays, not merely "fight."

[Donnie Brasco]

Reaves has been evolving in that direction over the years -- He doesn't fight nearly as much any more - I think I read that he had only 6 fights last year.
Reaves is definitely not an "enforcer" like Sestito, who is solely a fighter. Reaves can actually skate and has earned more and more ice time over the years.
I can totally see Sully working him into the 3rd/4th line rotation and expecting him to skate and make plays, not merely "fight."

Yea anyone calling Reaves a "goon" doesn't know what the fuck they're talking about. Dude can fly whereas a guy like Sestito can barely skate. They aren't even in the same stratosphere in terms of being able to play hockey

[Suwanee88]

My initial response is that we gave up too much for Reaves but I trust Rutherford and his vision. .

I also thought this and agree about JR too but I started thinking that JR may have to overpay now with all the success he is having.

[Legacy User]

My initial response is that we gave up too much for Reaves but I trust Rutherford and his vision. .

I also thought this and agree about JR too but I started thinking that JR may have to overpay now with all the success he is having.

clearly they targeted reaves..they must see a lot they like..!! I think hes gonna be great addition and fan fav!

[SteelPro]

Now for the other side of the coin... there is very little evidence that a player like Reaves is any deterrent at all for other teams taking a run at a star player...

So will any of that work? Can Reaves actually provide that sort of protection?

There is no doubt he will be willing to respond after the fact, because even though his fight totals have decreased in recent years he is still a willing heavyweight.

The issue is whether or not he can stop even a little bit of the abuse toward his teammates by making opponents like Washington’s Tom Wilson or Columbus’ Brandon Dubinsky (two of the biggest thorns in the Penguins’ side) take notice.

The easiest way to answer that now is to look at what sort of abuse the Blues — Reaves’ former team — took in recent years.

It was a lot.

Over the past four seasons the St. Louis Blues — Reaves’ former team — were on the receiving end of eight incidents that resulted in supplemental discipline from the NHL (suspension or fine), typically reserved for the dirtiest plays. The only team that was on the receiving end of more during that stretch was the Boston Bruins (10 –and keep in mind, this was a team that had Shawn Thornton and Milan Lucic for most of those years).

During one nine-day stretch in 2014 the Blues lost T.J. Oshie and David Backes to head shots. The two hits resulted in seven games in suspensions while Oshie and Backes both missed playoff games. Reaves was in the lineup both nights.

The next season Minnesota’s Marco Scandella was fined for an illegal hit to the head on Oshie. Last year New Jersey’s Bobby Farnham was hit with a four-game ban for taking a late, cheap run at Dmitri Jaskin while Reaves was on the ice. There are also several other borderline hits that did not result in supplemental discipline (like this, and this, and this).

https://sports.yahoo.com/let-talk-why-p ... 16743.html

[COR-TEN]

I'm finding it odd that when I mentioned "retaliation" or at least some kind of return physicality during the jackets and caps series, I was quickly corrected and told this is not the penguins, and goonish behavior is frowned upon.

Now the pens get Reaves, and everybody is happy they have an "enforcer" who can play hockey?

[Louis Lipps Service]

I'm finding it odd that when I mentioned "retaliation" or at least some kind of return physicality during the jackets and caps series, I was quickly corrected and told this is not the penguins, and goonish behavior is frowned upon.

Now the pens get Reaves, and everybody is happy they have an "enforcer" who can play hockey?

i'm not going to speak for everyone, but for me personally, i didn't want Sid/Geno or any of our more skilled guys retaliating as they did several times this past season. One, getting in meaningless scuffles has potential for needless injury. Two, putting one of your best players in the penalty box is never a benefit, even if it's matching penalties.

Even with Reaves in the lineup, I still don't want to see him racking up penalty minutes every time someone brushes up against Sid. I view him more as a nuclear option where if we're up 5-1 on Columbus and a guy like Dubinsky is using garbage time to take his usual liberties, we have a deterrent.

Which is why it's important that we didn't go after a straight out goon. i want 99% of his contributions to be meaningful plays that don't end up in penalties. But if we do get in a situation like a lopsided game where the cheap shots are getting out of hand and we can send him in to stir things up without worrying about the game outcome...we have the option to do so.

If he can find that right balance, then this is a good deal, in my book. If he goes full Steve Avery and is in the box every game, then it's not a good deal.

[fractalsteel]

I'm finding it odd that when I mentioned "retaliation" or at least some kind of return physicality during the jackets and caps series, I was quickly corrected and told this is not the penguins, and goonish behavior is frowned upon.

Now the pens get Reaves, and everybody is happy they have an "enforcer" who can play hockey?

i'm not going to speak for everyone, but for me personally, i didn't want Sid/Geno or any of our more skilled guys retaliating as they did several times this past season. One, getting in meaningless scuffles has potential for needless injury. Two, putting one of your best players in the penalty box is never a benefit, even if it's matching penalties.

Even with Reaves in the lineup, I still don't want to see him racking up penalty minutes every time someone brushes up against Sid. I view him more as a nuclear option where if we're up 5-1 on Columbus and a guy like Dubinsky is using garbage time to take his usual liberties, we have a deterrent.

Which is why it's important that we didn't go after a straight out goon. i want 99% of his contributions to be meaningful plays that don't end up in penalties. But if we do get in a situation like a lopsided game where the cheap shots are getting out of hand and we can send him in to stir things up without worrying about the game outcome...we have the option to do so.

If he can find that right balance, then this is a good deal, in my book. If he goes full Steve Avery and is in the box every game, then it's not a good deal.

I see him like this as well. He is the replacement for Kunitz who was our most physical forward but likely gone now. He is cheaper and younger as well.
He isn't going to be put on the ice to retaliate but rather set a tone. He can help on the forecheck, work corners maybe even score some dirty goals.
If he goes James Neal stupid Sully will sit his ass. If he realizes the skill around him and can adapt and grow as a player his minutes will go up.
This move wasn't about changing the scope of the team or what Sullivan wants to do. It wasn't about getting away from the uptempo game, this was to replace an older over paid former warrior who finally lost the battle to father time.

[Louis Lipps Service]

As much as it pains me to agree with Mark Madden, he pretty much nailed it in his article. If I were to be mad at this trade, it'd be more for giving up the 1st rounder than losing Sundqvist. That's not to say I am mad about that, just that I value the pick more than Sundqvist, even knowing that it's the 31st pick. But more to Madden's point, Pittsburgh fans have a lot of what I've coined "Derek Moye Syndrome" where they seem to love building no-name players up to be more than are...or ever will be. And I think there's a good bit of that in the outrage for losing Sundqvist. I think he could have stepped in and been an OK 3rd or 4th line center, but to pretend he was some irreplaceable prodigy isn't something I agree with. And I think that even if he were still on the roster, GMJR would have still been looking to sign/resign two centers for those #3 and #4 center spots.

http://1059thex.iheart.com/content/2017-06-26-pens-traded-sundqvist-not-yzerman/

Those moaning because Oskar Sundqvist got traded probably don’t remember Angelo Esposito and Kasperi Kapanen. Not many do.

Fans like to fancy themselves as “hardcore,” and thus pretend they know more about a guy like Sundqvist than they really do. That goes for some media, too.

How many times did these “hardcore” types see Sundqvist play?

The outrage is knee-jerk, and exists to make said nimrods feel like experts.

But they’re not.

Sundqvist was a third-round pick. At 23, he’s not yet an NHL regular. Consider what Jake Guentzel, also a third-round pick, has done at 22.

The Penguins sustained a ton of injuries last year, but Sundqvist played just 10 regular-season games and none in the playoffs. Carter Rowney, a mediocre talent at best, was preferred in the postseason.

The Penguins traded Sundqvist, not Steve Yzerman.

GM Jim Rutherford feels that targeting Sidney Crosby has accelerated, and especially did so during the playoffs.

Ryan Reaves can play a regular shift at fourth-line right wing in the postseason. He’s a better skater and player than Rowney. St. Louis played 11 playoff games, and Reaves participated in every one.

Reaves doesn’t fight a ton: Only six times this past season. But he’s big, he can skate, and he can hit. Reaves ranked tenth in the NHL with 239 hits.

Reaves is a solid fourth-liner, and a good fit for the Penguins.



Read more: http://1059thex.iheart.com/content/2017 ... z4l8oha0k5

[Jobu]

As much as it pains me to agree with Mark Madden, he pretty much nailed it in his article. If I were to be mad at this trade, it'd be more for giving up the 1st rounder than losing Sundqvist. That's not to say I am mad about that, just that I value the pick more than Sundqvist, even knowing that it's the 31st pick. But more to Madden's point, Pittsburgh fans have a lot of what I've coined "Derek Moye Syndrome" where they seem to love building no-name players up to be more than are...or ever will be. And I think there's a good bit of that in the outrage for losing Sundqvist. I think he could have stepped in and been an OK 3rd or 4th line center, but to pretend he was some irreplaceable prodigy isn't something I agree with. And I think that even if he were still on the roster, GMJR would have still been looking to sign/resign two centers for those #3 and #4 center spots.

http://1059thex.iheart.com/content/2017-06-26-pens-traded-sundqvist-not-yzerman/

Those moaning because Oskar Sundqvist got traded probably don’t remember Angelo Esposito and Kasperi Kapanen. Not many do.

Fans like to fancy themselves as “hardcore,” and thus pretend they know more about a guy like Sundqvist than they really do. That goes for some media, too.

How many times did these “hardcore” types see Sundqvist play?

The outrage is knee-jerk, and exists to make said nimrods feel like experts.

But they’re not.

Sundqvist was a third-round pick. At 23, he’s not yet an NHL regular. Consider what Jake Guentzel, also a third-round pick, has done at 22.

The Penguins sustained a ton of injuries last year, but Sundqvist played just 10 regular-season games and none in the playoffs. Carter Rowney, a mediocre talent at best, was preferred in the postseason.

The Penguins traded Sundqvist, not Steve Yzerman.

GM Jim Rutherford feels that targeting Sidney Crosby has accelerated, and especially did so during the playoffs.

Ryan Reaves can play a regular shift at fourth-line right wing in the postseason. He’s a better skater and player than Rowney. St. Louis played 11 playoff games, and Reaves participated in every one.

Reaves doesn’t fight a ton: Only six times this past season. But he’s big, he can skate, and he can hit. Reaves ranked tenth in the NHL with 239 hits.

Reaves is a solid fourth-liner, and a good fit for the Penguins.



Read more: http://1059thex.iheart.com/content/2017 ... z4l8oha0k5

An arrow to the heart?

[fractalsteel]

IMO the Pens moved on from Sundqvist. They gave him opportunities and instead of seeing improvement they saw regression. He was moved on from so that he could get another chance, with another organization.

[bradshaw2ben]

Reaves is going to have his career year this year. Great situation for him, and he's been improving each season.

[Suwanee88]

As much as it pains me to agree with Mark Madden, he pretty much nailed it in his article. If I were to be mad at this trade, it'd be more for giving up the 1st rounder than losing Sundqvist. That's not to say I am mad about that, just that I value the pick more than Sundqvist, even knowing that it's the 31st pick. But more to Madden's point, Pittsburgh fans have a lot of what I've coined "Derek Moye Syndrome" where they seem to love building no-name players up to be more than are...or ever will be. And I think there's a good bit of that in the outrage for losing Sundqvist. I think he could have stepped in and been an OK 3rd or 4th line center, but to pretend he was some irreplaceable prodigy isn't something I agree with. And I think that even if he were still on the roster, GMJR would have still been looking to sign/resign two centers for those #3 and #4 center spots.

http://1059thex.iheart.com/content/2017-06-26-pens-traded-sundqvist-not-yzerman/

Those moaning because Oskar Sundqvist got traded probably don’t remember Angelo Esposito and Kasperi Kapanen. Not many do.

Fans like to fancy themselves as “hardcore,” and thus pretend they know more about a guy like Sundqvist than they really do. That goes for some media, too.

How many times did these “hardcore” types see Sundqvist play?

The outrage is knee-jerk, and exists to make said nimrods feel like experts.

But they’re not.

Sundqvist was a third-round pick. At 23, he’s not yet an NHL regular. Consider what Jake Guentzel, also a third-round pick, has done at 22.

The Penguins sustained a ton of injuries last year, but Sundqvist played just 10 regular-season games and none in the playoffs. Carter Rowney, a mediocre talent at best, was preferred in the postseason.

The Penguins traded Sundqvist, not Steve Yzerman.

GM Jim Rutherford feels that targeting Sidney Crosby has accelerated, and especially did so during the playoffs.

Ryan Reaves can play a regular shift at fourth-line right wing in the postseason. He’s a better skater and player than Rowney. St. Louis played 11 playoff games, and Reaves participated in every one.

Reaves doesn’t fight a ton: Only six times this past season. But he’s big, he can skate, and he can hit. Reaves ranked tenth in the NHL with 239 hits.

Reaves is a solid fourth-liner, and a good fit for the Penguins.



Read more: http://1059thex.iheart.com/content/2017 ... z4l8oha0k5

Didn't we get the Blues 2nd #51 so we only dropped 20 spots? Not as big of a deal to me.

[jeemie]

The consensus of the experts is the rest of our draft sucked.

I don't know enough about any of the players to know if this is true, but I like that they're taking multiple shots on goal on defensemen.

[bradshaw2ben]

The consensus of the experts is the rest of our draft sucked.

I don't know enough about any of the players to know if this is true, but I like that they're taking multiple shots on goal on defensemen.

put it on net... you never know!