Ryan Reaves Sends a Clear Warning to Matt Rempe Ahead of Next Matchup

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Tom Banks
October 24, 2024 (3:49 PM)

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Ryan Reaves has been criticized a lot this season for his play, but now he appears ready to drop the gloves with Matt Rempe the next time they meet.

This season, Ryan Reaves hasn't been up to the same antics we've become accustomed to over the years, and after not fighting both Arber Xhekaj and Matt Rempe, Reaves has been under fire from former Maple Leafs players. After refusing to fight both players as well as passing the opportunity to do so in other games, it appears that the feeback may be getting to Reaves, as he's now sent a warning to Matt Rempe ahead of their next meeting.

As reported by Sportsnet's Luke Fox, Reaves told Rempe that next time the two teams meet, there would be a rematch between the two after they dropped the gloves for a highly anticipated tilt late in the 2023/24 regular season. However, the lack of fighting spirit this year from Reaves has seen him healthy scratched several times by Head Coach Craig Berube, and these recent comments may reveal that the veteran coach has talked to Reaves about the situation.

While Reaves has claimed he was ready to drop the gloves in the latest clash, Jay Rosehill's comments indicate the exact opposite, with Rempe reportedly challenging him several times, being denied each time.

"The Reavo-Rempe man, I've had some info that Rempe was absolutely coming after Reavo and coming to get that thing underway. I thought it was going to happen for sure and I found out afterwards that Rempe said 'I've asked him several times and he acted like I didn't exist and wouldn't even make eye contact', and you saw that with Wi-Fi as well, Game 1."

It's unclear exactly why Reaves has been hesitant to fight in 2024/25, but in two games against young, up-and-coming heavyweight enforcers, the Maple Leafs are 0-2 with no fights from Reaves, with these latest comments signalling that perhaps that may change in the near future.