That and I think immediately after the trade you saw people and the org over selling him as a player and/or what he’d do here. Those letdowns are never received well. He could break out offensively because he has untapped offensive potential... on track for his worst season in years. He’s a fast enough skater to fit the system... not such a good fit. He can be played like a regular 4th liner... no one told Sullivan that. Surpsingly skilled... no. I still love "he can be taught to PK" and then Sullivan tried it for a preseason game or two. That **** was never going to help Reaves' case and it looks like Sullivan hasn’t exactly been gung-ho about this.
We're seeing different emotions from Sully. Reaves has hit a few posts this season, and made some really great plays for what he is. Just last game Saturday night vs. Toronto he beat two men back after starting about 20 ft behind them to chase down a puck and prevent an icing - he absolutely does have speed (especially considering his size).
What has been said many times that I think is the truest point here, is that he's on a fourth line with literally no offensive talent. Surprising to me (and others) is that the focus is on Reaves at all. Reaves was never brought in for 20+ goals, yet there's a tremendous amount of flack on him for not producing points. Our third and fourth lines have been awful this season - why is Reaves, who makes 1M and plays 7 mins a game being picked on? Because a young winger could backpack a Kuhn playing perhaps 3 more minutes a game and produce? That's a stretch in my opinion. Our flaws are the lack of creative 3C/4C we had last season.
How do we KNOW that Sid and Geno want him in? I'm just curious.
Nobody is sure about those two - though they seem to really like the guy. Letang has been far more outspoken about loving Reaves in the lineup. However, It's surely nice to see Reaves throwing hits and punches this year as opposed to Geno having to stick up for our guys in physical games. Letang has also seemed (albeit with many terrible decisions) more level headed this year.
Reaves has not played to the expectation of what some of us (I thought he'd be able to produce more - though I did not foresee our fourth line looking its' worst in perhaps 4-5 years) thought he would...but I'd certainly say he's shown SOME improvements for whatever that's worth (his board play, passing, and recognizing transition). The couple moments this year where I've seen him do exactly what I'd hope he would were against Nashville, Washington, and specifically Calgary - when Tkachuk was being a ___ he ended up getting plastered and hurt. I was certainly not shedding any tears over that - and last season it would have been Sid or Geno taking the abuse and having to give it back. This year? Reaves took care of him.
