Though the Wild have won a pair of games in a row, it is safe to say that the season at large has not gone as they hoped it would. Making drastic changes is not necessarily the way to go, but something had to be done.
In a division like the Central Division, where there is a ton of talent and speed – Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, and more – combined with grit, the Wild needed to do something to become a tougher opponent. They did just that with a minor move.
Ryan Reaves goodbye message to #NYR and fans. pic.twitter.com/irDFuD9BlD
— Forever Blueshirts (@4EverBlueshirts) November 24, 2022
Acquiring Ryan Reaves
The day prior to Thanksgiving, the Wild made a minor trade with the New York Rangers. In exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Wild acquired noted tough guy Ryan Reaves from the Rangers.
It is a minor trade but one that can have a potentially big impact on the Wild going forward. Let’s take a closer look at why the move was made from both sides and why it makes the most sense for the Wild.
For the Rangers
On the surface, the deal is a minor one. Reaves isn’t exactly a gamebreaker but a fifth-round pick in the 2025 Draft is not much of a cost, either. But in the end, it winds up benefitting both teams.
For the Rangers, there is the matter of what’s to come, not necessarily what is happening right now. The Reaves’ move was initially meant to combat a perceived lack of toughness for the Rangers. After Capitals winger Tom Wilson bullied the Rangers a few years back, they felt the need to make a move.
Reaves has been fine, but he’s very much a one-dimensional player. He is there to muck it up, to get into the dirty areas, and to provide a bit of intimidation. While he did that admirably, his value with the Rangers just didn’t fit the team.
The Rangers are a young, fast team, and Reaves saw a difference in his play versus the rest. The result was one game in strength of eight where he actually suited up. Given that the Rangers have aimed at another deeper run, freeing up a roster spot and the $1.343 million in cap space makes the most sense.
It will allow them to have flexibility when the trade deadline comes around, allowing them to add a piece that they feel may be most worth it for their run.
Hahaha you can just hear the crowd buildup as Ryan Reaves sets his sites in his forechecking victim pic.twitter.com/FGtEzCQ2iM
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 11, 2022
For the Wild
The real question is what kind of value Reaves will bring to the Wild. On the ice, Reaves is a simple guy. He throws the body, gets his hands dirty, and delivers sandpaper that most teams in the league are sorely missing.
The real value may be off the ice. He has a lot of energy and swagger. He has a big personality. General Manager Bill Guerin feels that those are things that have been missing from the Wild lineup. Given the struggles that the Wild have faced in one of the toughest divisions in the league, they need the help.
At 9-8-2, there is still a lot of hockey left to be played. But there isn’t that much time and a Minnesota team that was expected to contend in the division and beyond couldn’t just sit around and do nothing.
Gerard Gallant discusses the Rangers trading away Ryan Reaves:
"Obviously I don't think he was happy with playing 1 game in the last 9…Good guy, good solid person, did the organization great. All the players love him. Hopefully he'll go to Minnesota and play real well there" pic.twitter.com/vgE0gP0YjX
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 24, 2022
Locker Room Impact
This move, if for nothing else, is to bring a greater cohesiveness to the locker room. Having more fun in practice, keeping teammates loose, and allowing them to approach each game without feeling too tight are crucial.
Reaves is notoriously a guy who makes practice light. He has a history of making teammates laugh, and keeping things looser along the way. In a division where there is a lot of competition to be had, staying loose can be a difference-maker.
The Wild will continue to look to youngsters like Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov to provide the on-ice production that the team needs. Reaves, and other veterans, will be counted on to provide the leadership that will drive the team forward.
Reaves’ Role
On the ice, Reaves’ role will continue to be clear. He will play the bottom six minutes, injecting an infusion of physicality and intimidation wherever possible. In a league where those things still hold value, it can wind up helping the Wild become more difficult to play against.
It isn’t the kind of impactful trade that will result in more goals or points. It is the kind of move that will pay dividends in ways that won’t be seen by those who don’t know what to look for.
The Wild have a lot to work towards if they hope to gain ground in the division and put themselves in a better position to make the playoffs. The Reaves’ move is a small step in that direction.
𝔹𝕀𝔾 #mnwild News:
We've acquired Ryan Reaves from the Rangers in exchange for a 5th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft! 💪
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) November 23, 2022
Credits on Featured Image: Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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