Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube expressed his surprise and disappointment following the NHL’s decision to suspend Ryan Reaves for five games due to an illegal check to the head on Edmonton Oilers’ defenseman Darnell Nurse. Berube acknowledged that the league has a mandate to protect players from head injuries but argued that the hit, while unfortunate, was not intentional or dirty on Reaves’ part. He emphasized that Reaves is known for playing a hard, physical game, but not for targeting the head.
The hit occurred during a November 16 game, and while Reaves was ejected and assessed a match penalty, many, including Berube, believed the five-game suspension was too severe. Berube, who himself was known as an enforcer during his playing days, defended Reaves, describing him as a “clean player” whose aggressive style sometimes leads to situations like this one.
This decision has sparked debate, with some viewing it as a necessary step to curb dangerous plays, while others feel it may have been overly harsh, especially given Reaves’ character and history. Reaves will be eligible to return on December 4 against the Nashville Predators.
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