The NHL Department of Player Safety announced a five-game suspension for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves following an illegal hit to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse during Saturday’s game. The decision reignited the debate over where the league draws the line between physicality and player safety—a tightrope the NHL constantly walks.
How Did the Reaves/Nurse Incident Take Place?
The game was in its early stages when Nurse, a key player on Edmonton’s blue line, became vulnerable while attempting to play the puck. Reaves delivered a high, forceful check to Nurse, with the principal point of contact being the head. The force and angle of the collision resulted in Nurse immediately leaving the game. He was woozy and struggled to reach his feet like a stunned prize fighter.
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The immediate fallout was concerning. Nurse logged only 7:45 of ice time before leaving the game, and his absence left Edmonton shorthanded. Elliotte Friedman later reported that Nurse walked around post-game and joked with trainers—an encouraging sign. Still, his condition remains uncertain, and the Oilers might need to call up reinforcements from the American Hockey League (AHL).
According to the NHL DoPS, the hit was both avoidable and unnecessary. Nurse’s positioning did not significantly change before the play, meaning Reaves could have opted for a safer route to deliver his body check. The result was that Nurse sustained an injury, a critical factor in the decision to suspend Reaves.
The league further justified the suspension by pointing to Reaves’ history of disciplinary issues, which includes previous suspensions and fines for reckless hits. The combination of an illegal play, resulting injury, and Reaves’ track record culminated in a severe penalty.
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Reaves, often described as an old-school enforcer, plays a role that has grown increasingly rare in today’s NHL. While his intent might have been to energize his team, the hit crossed into illegal territory. It raises questions about whether players in Reaves’ role must adapt to the modern game’s faster pace and stricter safety standards.
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