NHL Rumors: Veteran's Tenure With Rangers May Be Coming To An End

Ryan Reaves' tenure with the New York Rangers may be coming to an end. The 35-year-old is in the last year of his contract and he is earning $1.75 million. This season he has been a healthy scratch for five games and has zero points. He is also playing the least amount of time per game when he is in the lineup.

His effectiveness has definitely decreased as he has recorded just three total shots and taken five shot attempts. His ice time has fallen by two minutes on average from the last couple of seasons. He still plays physically, but at a certain point, that's not enough.

Gerard Gallant said that Reaves had a very brief conversation with the Rangers' coaching staff about his role. That could mean a number of things, but seeing as he hasn't been productive at all, it can't be positive. It could definitely indicate that he will be a healthy scratch much more moving forward as players like Sammy Blais, Ryan Carpenter, Julien Gauthier, and Vitaly Kravtsov have all been more effective when they've been in the lineup.

There isn't much place in the league anymore for pure enforcers like Reaves is. In the past he has at least been able to add some scoring as he scored five goals and 13 points in 69 games with the Rangers last season. The division seems tougher than it was last season and the team wants to do everything they can to win games.

It's unlikely Reaves will be traded, but I can't see him re-signing. At his age, he could even call it a career after this season.