Ryan Reaves reveals he lost his confidence early this season
Photo credit: AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves revealed that he lost his confidence early in the season.
After he signed a three-year, $4,050,000 AAV contract in Toronto over the summer, he had a tough start of the season.
Reaves was brought in Toronto for his physical style of play, and he failed to fill that role when the season started. He was widely criticized for his lack of response in multiple incidents, notably when Brad Marchand injured Liljegren in early December.
When the coaching staff decided to sideline him for a six weeks following that incident, he used that time to work hard and got it all back.
At the time, here's what he said:
"Yeah, I've been ready for a couple weeks now. That's a question for them. I am not in those rooms, in those conversations. I'm not going to speculate anything. Just stay ready. And if I get called upon, I do. If I don't, I get my work in."
After a reckless fight against the Tampa Bay Lightning's enforcer, Tanner Jeannot, earlier this week, Reaves opened up on his tough first half of the season, and how he sees it now, a few months later.
"Used that as a mini training camp. I worked on everything that I could. I was doing two-, three-a-days (training sessions) sometimes.
"Just trying to get confidence back."
"Confidence is a real thing. First time I've probably gone through something like that in my career where I just felt like nothing was going right. I just felt like I had no confidence. Used that opportunity to try and build it back."
"Just trying to get confidence back."
"Confidence is a real thing. First time I've probably gone through something like that in my career where I just felt like nothing was going right. I just felt like I had no confidence. Used that opportunity to try and build it back."
In the same interview, when he was asked about his chances of being in the lineup to start the playoffs, he stated:
"Not a question for me. I can only do what I can do — play physical and take care of my own end and get chances."
It'll be interesting to see if he can keep that momentum going into the playoffs. The Leafs are poised for a tough first round this year, and they'll need Reaves to be ready to face-off against either the Bruins, Panthers, Rangers, or Lightning's toughest players.
Source: Hockey Latest - Reaves admits he lacked confidence in early days as a Maple Leaf
| POLL | ||
5 AVRIL | 178 ANSWERS Ryan Reaves reveals he lost his confidence early this season Do you think Ryan Reaves found his confidence back? | ||
| Yes | 143 | 80.3 % |
| No | 35 | 19.7 % |
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