Ryan Reaves is the best in the NHL at what he does. And he continues to get better.
The 33-year-old winger is in the midst of his 13th pro season and is the most dominant physical presence in the NHL. In an era where physicality is waning, Reaves has found a space where he thrives and benefits his team.
Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon announced Monday the club had extended Reaves's contract for two more seasons at an average annual value of $1.75 million.
Reaves hits people and doesn't take penalties. It's both a science and an artform. He understands what is legal and how to hit a player with impact while not drawing outside the lines. The result is a player different than any other in the NHL. Reaves runs through people on a regular basis giving the opposition less time and space to operate while opening up ice for his teammates.
There are 12 "high volume-hitters" in the league, forwards who have accumulated 400-plus hits over the last two seasons. Reaves averages 21.4 hits for every penalty he takes - that ranks first overall among those 12 high-volume hitters.
Reaves brings an element of toughness which spreads throughout the Golden Knights lineup. He's a deterrent. Opposition players know if they get goofy, they will have to answer to Reaves.
But it is the legal component of his game which makes Reaves so effective. He is the most prolific hitter in the NHL and has combined with linemates Will Carrier and Tomas Nosek to give Vegas a wrecking ball of a fourth line.
Reaves has led the NHL in hits two years running and this season is tops in hits per 60 minutes. Since entering the league, Reaves ranks third in total hits.
Spanning the last two seasons, Reaves leads the league with 621 hits, 99 more hits than Brandon Tanev who ranks second with 522. That's 19% more hits than the NHL's second-leading hitter.
Reaves has averaged more than 10 mins/game in both of his full seasons with Vegas. His previous career high was 8:53. He's tweaked his training and improved his skating over his career and is currently the best version of his NHL self.
Among lines with 300+ minutes played, the Carrier-Nosek-Reaves line ranked 6th in the league in xG% getting 59.2% of the expected goals at 5v5 when they were on the ice.
Last season with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare in the middle, the Vegas fourth line ranked 5th at 59.1%.
Reaves is a plus two at 5v5 during his entire time in Vegas. The Golden Knights control play at 5v5 with Reaves on the ice, physically dominate the opposition and net out positively in the goal column giving Vegas arguably the best fourth line in hockey during his time in Nevada.
