Toronto Maple Leafs Ryan Reaves Handed Lengthy Suspension for Head Shot on Edmonton Oilers' Darnell Nurse

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Maverick Mitchell
November 17, 2024 (4:42 PM)

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The NHL's Department of Player Safety have confirmed that Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves will be suspended 5 games for his dirty hit to the head on Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.

After Reaves was handed a major match penalty for his headshot on Darnel Nurse in last nights contest, it was clear that he would be facing supplemental discipline for his actions.

Even though it was not an in person hearing, the 37-year-old Reaves had a phone call with the NHL's Department of Player Safety, where they concluded that he would be suspended for 5 games.

This will be heavy weight enforcers 4th career suspension, his last coming back in the 2021-2022 season for using his body weight to hold down a Vegas Golden Knight on the ice during a scrum in the playoffs.

Because suspensions result in the loss of salary, Ryan Reaves will miss out on $35,156.25 USD.

After the game, a number of Edmonton Oiler players commented on the hit to Nurse, and this is what Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and head coach Kris Knoblauch had to say.

«I think it's a dangerous play,» said Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins after the game, which the Maple Leafs won 4-3 in overtime. «He's got to know that Nursey doesn't see him coming and choose the right path there. And he doesn't. I mean, it's tough to see one of your teammates on the ice like that. Dangerous play. You don't ever want to see something like that.»

«It was contact to the head. I did see it, and that's what I saw.» - Oiler head coach Kris Knoblauch

Reaves, who has been in and out of the lineup all season long, is next scheduled to play on December 4th.