Ryan Reaves gets embarrassed by the Leafs in recent game

Toronto Maple Leafs veteran forward Ryan Reaves has had a bumpy start to the season thus far. The easily recognizable enforcer, signed to bring a big element of grit and physicality to the Leafs lineup, has already been scratched from a few games early this year. Fans and former NHLers alike have been talking about Reaves' performances as of late and are questioning his unwillingness to enter fights and capitalizing on dropped gloves to give his team energy boosts on the ice.

Reaves returned to the Leafs lineup on Thursday night, in their home matchup against the St. Louis Blues, head coach Craig Berube's old team. It was an extra-important contest for Berube as he prepared his bench for a big test, though he was locked in on his own. The Leafs came out flat to open Saturday, continuing the poor momentum set during Tuesday's 6-2 blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In that game against Columbus, Toronto's fans were frustrated, including some taking that angst out on Reaves. Midway through a 3-0 deficit in that one, the Leafs social media account tweeted out a picture of Reaves from warmups with the score across it. That was a pretty subtle shot at Reaves, perhaps the implication being he had not done enough to energize the team or to properly defend the line-up. The decision did not go without notice, and thus a debate began regarding Reaves' value to the team this season.

The trend would continue Thursday night, with the Blues taking a 2-0 lead to the first intermission against the Leafs. Once more, the Leafs' social media account sent out a photo of Reaves from warmups with the score, passive-aggressively making sure to point his presence out in another poor start. The repetition spawned a bevy of speculation from fans, with many considering this a public call-out, while others thought it simply a coincidence. In any case, Reaves' play and role on the team continue to be debated.

Despite having the lowest on-ice impact this season, where he has played just over nine minutes and registered only a single shot on goal through Thursday's game, Ryan Reaves has remained at the forefront of fan discussion. While this season has not provided the physical presence that made him a household name, his name continues to lead the charge among fans and analysts alike. For better or worse, the attention on Reaves persists, and for now, that may be exactly what the Maple Leafs want.