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- Things could get nasty between the Rangers and the Capitals this season.
- As New York gears up for revenge on Tom Wilson, Ryan Reaves is teaching his new teammates how to throw hands.
- Click HERE for more NHL coverage!
The New York Rangers open the 2021 NHL season against the Washington Capitals on October 13 and it is going to be INTENSE. A lot of bad blood was spilt between the two sides at the end of last season.
During a May 4th meeting, noted scumbag Tom Wilson sucker punched Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich in the back of the head and slammed Armeti Panarin into the ice head-first. When they squared off the next day, things got violent quick.
The game started with an all-out line brawl and multiple fights broke out throughout the evening. Meanwhile, Wilson left the game with “an injury.”
Needless to say, New York hates Washington and Washington hates New York.
As a result, the Rangers are gearing up for a war in the season-opener.
Recently-acquired enforcer Ryan Reaves has been teaching his new teammates how to fight. He knows a thing or two about throwing cinderblocks.
Ryan Reaves is so calm the entire time. Terrifying. pic.twitter.com/O95Xhbf3uv
— Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) October 18, 2019
Ross Johnston drops the gloves with Ryan Reaves. Big boy fighting. pic.twitter.com/LAfKEC896I
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) February 16, 2020
In fact, Reaves once called himself “the solution to your Tom Wilson problem.”
Ryan Reaves with a huge hit on Tom Wilson.. pic.twitter.com/HZjLDDdp8e
— Kliff’s Bedroom (@KliffsBedroom) December 5, 2018
ryan reaves laughing in the face of tom wilson after upending him is everything ive ever wanted, and more pic.twitter.com/Zn1il3EVYx
— Penguins Jesus (@PenguinsJesus) December 5, 2018
Now, ahead of what is set to be a physical, savage matchup between two teams with a detestation for one another, Reaves is sharing his wealth of fighting knowledge. He has been taking time during training camp to get the Rangers ready for fisticuffs.
The beautiful game. pic.twitter.com/15rYErUEpk
— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 25, 2021
What has Brennan Othmann learned while being with the Rangers?
"That everybody is really good" 😆
He also says Ryan Reaves taught him a few things. pic.twitter.com/0NTtw5OCsU
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) September 10, 2021
There is one holdout, however. Kaapo Kakko, New York’s second-overall pick in in 2019, doesn’t think he would be much of an asset in a fight.
We joked with Kakko about Kravtsov getting fighting lessons from Ryan Reaves and asked if he'll do the same now that he's bigger and stronger:
He said no, adding, "I think that I wouldn’t be much help (in a fight)." #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) September 27, 2021
It’s probably for the best that he won’t be involved in the nearly inevitable violence. Things are going to get nasty.