ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

“At first it looked like he really wanted to go,” Reaves was saying the other day about the Sunday night fight in the Ottawa Senators game. “Once I grabbed him, he turned his head away and went down pretty quick. I don’t know if he thought he’d bitten off more than he could chew. Probably just a rookie amped up, trying to make a name for himself.”

Except Reaves is the one who’s long made that name for himself in the NHL. In short bang-bang shrift, he flicked the Senators frosh off.

That brief encounter this past week — before Sebrango hit Reaves from behind, which the veteran hadn’t appreciated — followed yapping incitement that continued into the penalty box. “He told me I was on my way out. I told him, no s—-. This is my 15th year and I’m 37 years old. Then he ran out of stuff to say.”

Fifteen years and there’s always somebody who thinks he can carve cred by taking on Reaves. Though Reaves’ menacing reputation precedes him, an intimidating force field which deflects snotty-nosed wannabe adversaries.

“The way the league’s gone, guys are getting smaller, faster, less fighting. But yeah, everybody’s got a reputation, whether it’s fighting or the guy with a lot of speed or a guy who lays a big hit.”

Reaves is a bad-to-the-bone enforcer and he doesn’t mind that label one bit.

“Enforcer 15 or 20 years ago was different from what it means now. First of all, there’s not a lot of us left. But now it’s more a guy playing physical, sticking up for his teammates, bringing the energy and fighting when he has to.’’

He had only seven fights with the Maple Leafs last season.

Rumours of the enforcer’s extinction may have been exaggerated. The New York Rangers called up Matt Rempe last spring — four fights in his first nine games — and he became an instant darling at Madison Square Garden. The Devils extended brawler Kurtis MacDermid over the summer. Tom Wilson is a fixture and alternate captain with the Washington Capitals.

“People have talked about it leaving, but I don’t think it can ever leave the game,’’ says Reaves. “It’s so fast, so physical. The second you take guys like me out of it, there’s just bound to be a lot more liberties taken on those top guys, and I don’t think anybody wants that.’’

Still, brows furrowed when ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ general manager Brad Treliving signed Reaves to a three-year, $4.05-million (U.S.) contract 14 months ago. And there’s a loud constituency that insists a roster spot shouldn’t be “wasted’’ on Reaves this season, his 2,962 career hits (seventh all-time) an attribute not required on this team at this moment from a fourth liner with alleged defensive deficiencies. Of course, there’s also a segment of pearl clutchers who abhor the very idea of an enforcer, view them as knuckle draggers and an anachronism that brings the game into disrepute.

In fact, at least one senior member of Leafs management theorizes that the presence of Reaves was sideways enabling when teammate Chris Kreider scored 52 goals for the Rangers in the 2021-22 season. That his deterrence factor has also been useful to the likes of Auston Matthews. Although that suggestion cracks Reaves up.

“I’d like to take a lot of credit for his 69 goals last year,’’ he snorts. “But I hope it allows him to play a little more free. I hope they all feel like they’re a little more protected out there. If they don’t, then I’m not doing my job. I don’t take credit for anybody’s success, but I hope I help contribute just a little bit more ease on the ice for them.’’

Bench boss Craig Berube, while a hard-nosed bruiser himself as a player, has never assigned that enforcement gig as a coach, even when he had players who fit the description.

“I don’t deploy anybody in that manner. They do their job. I had Wayne Simmonds, he scored goals, he was a good player and he did that stuff when he had to stick up for a teammate ... (whenever) the situation came about, he handled it. No different than having Ryan Reaves on our team.

“More than anything, he’s a guy that is big and physical. He can wear the other team down. He can try to get some hits on the defence of the other team, score some goals around the net, be a difficult player to play against.”

By his own admission, Reaves had an awful first half last year but returned from a December knee injury an altered player. “It was a tale of two seasons for me. At the beginning, I obviously struggled. After my injury, I played the way I wanted to for this team. I want to bring that half into this season — physical, hard on the forecheck quickly, being responsible in the D-zone.

“All the things that help me stay in the lineup.”

But taunt him or torment a teammate? Be ready to put up your dukes.