Photo: NHL
New York Rangers right-wing Ryan Reaves left the team’s preseason game against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday after getting slewfooted by defenseman P.K. Subban.
While going into a board battle to try to fish a loose puck, Subban fended off Reaves, who got tangled in his skates and took an awkward fall down 9:56 into the first period.
The 34-year-old will not return and will be re-evaluated on Thursday.
Subban with the slew foot #NYR pic.twitter.com/AISheOqr4j
— David 🔹 (@DaveyUpper) October 6, 2021
The Rangers acquired Reaves from the Vegas Golden Knights during the offseason after the team felt vulnerable last season, when Washington Capitals right-wing Tom Wilson and some New York Islanders players pushed around their star players.
Wilson pummled left wing Pavel Buchnevich (who was traded to the St. Louis Blues in July) and right-wing Artemi Panarin down to the ice in the Capitals’ 4-2 win at Madison Square Garden on May 3, which he got fined $5,000 for. Neither Buchnevich nor Panarin played again after that last season.
In addition to adding Reaves this offseason, the Rangers acquired 6’2″, 203-pound left wing Barclay Goodrow from the Tampa Bay Lightning; 6’2″, 205-pound left wing Sammy Blais from the St. Louis Blues (in addition to a second-round pick) that sent Buchnevich to the Gateway City; and 6’6″, 205-pound defenseman Jarred Tinordi in free agency.
On Rangers’ media day, Reaves said reporters that “I’m not here because of Tom Wilson. I’m here because of what players like Tom Wilson brings to his team. … I’m holding everybody accountable.”
The Rangers open the regular season Wilson and the Capitals on Wednesday at Capital One Arena (7:30 PM ET, TNT).
By Harrison Brown
