Infamous Canadiens Enforcer Calls Out Ryan Reaves After Fight

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Graham Montgomery
April 7, 2024 (9:54 PM)

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Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves fought Canadiens tough guy Michael Pezzetta yesterday. The contest inspired former Canadiens enforcer Georges Laraque to comment on the role of enforcers in the NHL.

He talked about how the Leafs brought in Reaves to make the team harder to play against. This came to a head immediately during the first game of the season, which was against the Canadiens. In that game, the Leafs did win, but only in a shootout. Ryan Reaves was not as effective as Leafs fans would have hoped, especially in his fight against Arber Xhekaj. Laraque contends that the young Hab made him look bad, which may have lead to yesterday's actions.

Just so you know, ill explain something to you plain and simple. When you play your first game in Toronto after signing a 3 year deal, in front of your fans, you play rival team like Montreal. You're supposed to be the #1 heavyweight in the NHL, when a guy makes you look bad in a fight, because Xhekaj did made him look bad, you go again, not the next game, the same game. Xhekaj has nothing to prove!

Notably, Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj was not in the lineup yesterday. Laraque believes that this is why Reaves was so noticeable in the game as there was no one to keep him in line. He argues that Reaves was far less effective in the previous matchups when Xhekaj was in the lineup.

For those who were wondering the importance of Xhekaj in the lineup, I hope you understand after yesterday's game against Toronto. Go watch the previous match between the 2 teams when Xhekaj played, Reaves was invisible, and yesterday he was driving everyone crazy! While the cat's away the mice will play!!! 😂

Luckily, Michael Pezzetta was in the lineup and he answered the bell when Reaves wanted to go again. That being said, the Leafs came away as winners again, completing the season series sweep 3-0.

Source: Hockeyfeed
Former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque calls out Ryan Reaves.