Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves has been handed a five-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for a dangerous hit to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse during Saturday’s game.
The suspension comes after a review of Reaves’ head-high check on Nurse, which was deemed "illegal and avoidable" by the NHLPA.
That assessment, along with Nurse’s resulting injury and Reaves’ history of prior suspensions, combined for the multi-game ban set at five matchups.
The incident occurred early in the second period at Scotiabank Arena as the Leafs played the Oilers on the road.
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Nurse was skating behind his net with the puck when Reaves delivered a high-impact shoulder check to Nurse’s head, sending the Oilers defenseman to the ice, bloodied.
Play was halted to clean blood from the ice, and Nurse was helped to the locker room. He did not return to the game, which Edmonton ultimately lost 4–3 in overtime.
Ryan Reaves has been suspended 5 games for this hit on Darnell Nurse.
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 17, 2024
Reaves also received a match penalty on the play. pic.twitter.com/45KsTpDpYA
Reaves was handed a match penalty and ejected for the game following his hit, which the Department of Player Safety described in a video explanation as “a high, hard check that cuts across the front of Nurse’s body, missing his core and picking his head, making it the main point of contact.”
The department emphasized that the contact was avoidable and met both criteria for an illegal check to the head.
This is the fourth suspension of Reaves’ 15-year NHL career and the third tied to a hit. As part of the ruling, he will forfeit $35,156.25 in salary and will be eligible to return on Dec. 4 against the Nashville Predators.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch provided no update on Nurse’s condition following the game in what could turn out to be a damaging loss for Edmonton as Nurse has averaged 21 minutes per game on the blue line this season.
Reaves, meanwhile, has played a fourth-line enforcer role for Toronto logging under eight minutes of playing time per game.
Related: Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves Ejected for Injuring Oilers Player with Hit to Head