in a draft day deal that saw a first round pick and top prospect , Oskar Sundqvist go the other direction .
According to a tweet published by St . Louis Post- Dispatch ’ s Jeremy Rutherford , Reaves didn ’ t actually believe the draft-day trade to be true when he first heard about it .
“ The first thing I saw on Twitter was , ‘ it sounds like Reaves is going for a first rounder ’. I was like , ‘ Okay , obviously that is a bunch of garbage ’,” Reaves said . “ Actually I think the first thing I saw was ‘ Reaves for Crosby ’, and Chris Stewart texted me asking if I was getting traded . I was just like , ‘ I don ’ t know why you ’ re paying attention to Twitter right now ’. But then a couple tweets started flowing through and then I got a call from Doug Armstrong in St . Louis telling me I got traded here to Pittsburgh , and it started sinking in slowly .”
Now serving as Sidney
Crosby ’ s personal bodyguard , the 30-year-old from Winnipeg who went directly from St . John ’ s Ravenscourt in the WHSHL to the WHL ’ s Brandon Wheat Kings , has already made his presence felt in the Penguins ’ lineup .
After losing 10-1 to Chicago in just their second game of the year , the Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans got an early look at what exactly they traded their best center ice prospect and 2017 first round pick for . Reaves dropped his mitts not once , but twice , and also registered a goal in a bounce back win over Nashville two days later . Picking up 24 penalty minutes in the 4-0 victory , Reaves fought both Austin Watson and Binscarth ’ s Cody McLeod .
“ I had caught a lot of heat on Twitter earlier from fans saying stuff like , ‘ this is a garbage trade , I don ’ t know why we ’ re picking up this meatball and bringing him in to the
Stanley Cup champs ’,” Reaves reflected . “ I think I won a couple fans over after that game in Nashville ; it was a tough game before in Chicago , so I needed to bring a little energy .
“ It was funny because last year I actually joked with a couple of the boys back in St . Louis that I have to stop having such good games against Pittsburgh , or else they will want to trade for me ,” Reaves added . “ I know I caught Crosby ( with his head down ) a couple of times , and I scored my last time there , but now here we are and it ’ s full-circle . I ’ m glad to be a Penguin .”
Reaves has done a lot more than just bring energy to the Penguins ’ lineup . He has brought excitement and lot of fear as well – just ask Phil Kessel .
Just a couple days before Reaves found himself challenging the entire Washington Capitals ’ bench following his manhandling of Caps ’ centreman Liam O ’ Brien , the always entertaining Winnipeg product nearly broke the Twitter world when his home-video of a Halloween prank on teammate Phil Kessel went viral .
Reaves ’ Halloween scare may have been his most publicized prank , but the 6-foot-1 , 225-pound forward is no stranger to the spotlight . Now as a member of the Penguins , Reaves has been able to show both his support for the local NFL team and his love for football by completing post-game interviews while wearing Pittsburgh Steelers gear – most noticeably a heavily tinted Steelers helmet .
Being a Penguin isn ’ t the only thing that ’ s new for Reaves , as Ryan and his wife Alanna recently welcomed a new member to their family , son Canaan . Although he is prominently known as a hockey player , Reaves enjoys being a father .
“ I like being home a lot more ,” he said . “ It really is life changing . I think it ’ s something that you don ’ t expect to change your life that quickly , but he ’ s been a lot of fun . And now as he grows up he ’ s liking me a little bit more , and starting to play . We play football all the time , it ’ s really been a blessing .”
Whether it ’ s pranking his good buddy Phil Kessel with surprise clown masks , saran wrapping the cars of unsuspecting teammates , wearing Phil the Thrill t-shirts and Pittsburgh Steelers football helmets for his postgame media appearances , or enjoying family time as a new father , Winnipegger Ryan Reaves is sure to keep things light on and off the ice . ❍
114 | GAME ON | DECEMBER 2017