Signed photos of Reaves hit on Wilson make NHL naughty list
Toronto Star 06 Dec 2018 at 19:07 |

Sports
Reaves was ejected from Tuesdayâs game, a 5-3 Vegas win, and Wilson, who sustained a concussion, missed Thursdayâs game. Washington coach Todd Reirden said Wilson is âday-to-dayâ while he recovers.
Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves is thrown out of the game for this hit on Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson
And Reaves? He signed 16x20-inch copies of a photograph that shows Wilson dazed on the ice as Reaves is escorted away, posts on social media indicated. On each picture, Reaves wrote the message he gave reporters after Tuesdayâs game: âHe ran into a lion in the jungle.â
Inscriptagraphs, a Las Vegas-based memorabilia dealer, called the photos the âmust have Christmas Gift of the Yearâ in a since-deleted tweet and Instagram post. Though apparently no one will be getting them. Vegas Golden Knights spokesperson Eric Tosi said in an email that the photos âwere not distributed and they have been destroyed.â
Inscriptagraphs removed the signed photographs from its website and eBay on Thursday evening. Representatives from the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reavesâ agent also could not be reached.
Wilson and Reaves, both physical players, have history. They have fought twice in their careers, both times when Reaves played for St. Louis.
Wilson has been on a tear during his suspension-shortened season, with eight goals and six assists in 11 games. He has a surly reputation in the league because of altercations like the ones with Wilson and one in which he illegally checked the head of St. Louisâ Oskar Sundqvist in September. The NHLâs department of player safety suspended him 20 games for that, though his suspension was reduced after an appeal.
Reaves was assessed a five-minute major for interference Tuesday and ejected for the hit on Wilson, but not suspended.
âReaves targeted him the entire game,â Reirden said Tuesday. âYou could hear it on every faceoff. You could hear the things that were being said. Itâs a blindside hit where an unsuspecting player hits his head on the ice. Thatâs disappointing. You could put two and two together, but he targeted him the entire game, so you can figure that out from there.â
The Capitals face the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night and visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Ryan Reavesâ hit on Tom Wilson of the Capitals in Tuesdayâs game was deemed unsuitable for framing.  (David Becker / GETTY IMAGES)