Reaves remained one of the NHL's elite hit machines in 2019-20, racking up 316 body checks and 15 points in 71 games. His 47 PIM last year actually represented the lowest mark of his career, but let's avoid nominating the 33-year-old for sainthood, as he still packs quite the punch. Reaves can certainly throw his body around, so he's a near-lock for at least 200 hits if he stays healthy during the 2020-21 campaign. The punishing winger will also likely add roughly 10 points, but few fantasy managers have ever added him for his offense -- he'll be more useful in formats that reward the physical contributions highly.
Reaves dispelled the notion that all fourth-liners should be avoided in fantasy hockey, with the veteran winger sprinkling career highs across the board in 2018-19. Despite only averaging 10:54 of ice time, Vegas' resident tough guy bagged nine goals and 11 assists -- including three power-play goals and two game-winners -- as a fine complement to his league-high 305 hits. Reaves' value is most evident in daily fantasy (DFS) settings, with his increasingly frequent offensive outbursts making him a low-risk, budget-friendly dice roll in both tournament and cash-game formats.
Reaves was acquired by the Golden Knights in a trade with Pittsburgh in February of 2018. He's a veteran enforcer in an era where the gloves are rarely dropped anymore and teams generally deploy quicker and more highly skilled forwards. The Manitoba native only produced two assists over 21 games in the regular season with Vegas, but he asserted himself during the 2018 playoffs to the tune of two goals, 18 PIM, 37 hits and a plus-4 rating over 10 games. Still, with a fourth-line role and no clear path to significant ice time, Reaves is not worth owning in fantasy leagues unless you find yourself desperate for defensive numbers.
Reaves was the sheriff of St. Louis, but he was deputized to Pittsburgh in a draft-day trade. He's not going to light it up with goals and assists -- he posted a career highs with seven goals and 13 points last season -- but he'll have your back. The 30-year-old played in 80 games in 2016-17, recording 104 PIM, 239 hits and 26 blocked shots while playing just under nine minutes per game. The Penguins traded a first-round pick and a prospect for Reaves, so expect them to deploy him as much as they can, even if his offensive game isn't remarkable.
Reaves' game took a bit of a step forward in 2014-15, as he set career highs in goals (six), points (12) and shots (55) while still bringing his physical game to the Blues, racking up 116 PIM and 276 hits (also a career high). It's the toughness that makes Reaves valuable in fantasy formats that reward his unique skills, but he's in his late 20s and is a fourth-liner again, so he isn't likely to grow his offensive game much more.
The Blues relied on Reaves to dole out punishment once again last season as a member of the fourth line, with the winger tallying a career-high 211 hits and 126 penalty minutes. It was during one of his typical skirmishes that he suffered a broken hand, costing him about five weeks of action. Reaves would quickly return to his physical brand of hockey upon activation and earned a four-year contract extension along the way, keeping him in the fold for years to come as the protector of the Blues’ more offensively-skilled crop of forwards. If health permits, expect him to rank near the top of the league leaderboard in hits and penalty minutes, while providing next to nothing in just about every other category.
When the Blues traded B.J. Crombeen in the offseason, the move appeared to clear a roster spot and role for Reaves on a nightly basis. Reaves brings a lot of size and forecheck to the Blues, and he'll be best used to create a disturbance and intimidate. He'll be a fourth-line winger and with a nightly role, a potential help for fantasy teams in leagues that reward penalties (124 PIMs in 60 games).
