Ryan Reaves' Future with NYR Could Be in Question, Per Report

Frankly, if not for various injuries, Reaves probably wouldn't have suited up in a single game. Now fully healthy, it appears as though Reaves is, in fact, the odd-man out.

Reaves has zero points in his 12 games, but offense was never his role. He is an enforcer, and the simple fact is that this Rangers team needs goals and defense, not hits and fights. New York ranks T-10th in both goals-for and goals-against, and they sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division; one spot outside the second wild-card spot.

While there is no guarantee that the Rangers elect to move on from their heavyweight enforcer, it seems more likely than not. The Rangers have high hopes after their Eastern Conference Finals appearance last season, and cap space is not a luxury for GM Chris Drury, who currently has $173,801 in space, per CapFriendly.

Drury and the Rangers have been connected to Blackhawks' superstar, Patrick Kane, in a potential trade, however lots of work stands to be done between now and then. The fit needs not explained, as Kane's addition would provide a massive boost for the Rangers, who are in the hunt for Lord Stanley's Cup.

For the Rangers to afford such a deal, Reaves makes sense as a possible departure, as unfortunate as it may be. Head coach Gerard Gallant has said that speed maintains his top priority in the lineup, which is not a strong-suit of Reaves' game.

Model: [JFresh]