Maple Leafs winger Ryan Reaves’ brother defends him on social media after controversial comments from Darnell Nurse about the hit that injured him.

Ryan Reaves has been the center of attention following his controversial hit on Darnell Nurse, which led to a five-game suspension handed down by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

The incident sparked some debate, especially with the ambiguity surrounding the suspension, but the Toronto Maple Leafs were notably silent on the matter, preventing Reaves from publicly addressing the situation. Instead, Reaves had to accept the decision without issuing a rebuttal.

On the other hand, the Edmonton Oilers took a different approach, allowing Darnell Nurse to speak out about the hit. Nurse described the hit as ‘pretty obvious’ in its intent, offering his own take on the play.

Since Reaves wasn’t able to respond directly to Nurse’s comments, his brother, Jordan Reaves, took to social media to defend him.

According to David Alter on X, Jordan Reaves responded to Nurse’s comments:
Darnell Nurse:

“It’s pretty obvious what’s going on there”.
-Darnell Nurse’s reaction to Ryan Reaves hit from Saturday.

Reaves’ brother Jordan’s reply to BarDown’s post.

“you could tell that looking at your skates?”
 

Ryan Reaves, a veteran of 15 seasons in the NHL, is known for his physical play, toughness, and hard-hitting style, which has often led to suspensions and shaped his reputation within the NHL.

While the hit on Nurse may have seemed excessive to some, it’s debatable whether the suspension was entirely justified.

One thing is certain, though; the Maple Leafs could likely use Reaves’ leadership, grit and presence sooner rather than later, given the injuries they’ve faced in recent days.