Signed photos of Reaves hit on Wilson make NHL naughty list

Sports

WASHINGTON—The late blindside hit from Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves sent Capitals forward Tom Wilson crashing down. Wilson’s helmet popped off, and his head bounced on the T-Mobile Arena ice.

Reaves was ejected from Tuesday’s game, a 5-3 Vegas win, and Wilson, who sustained a concussion, missed Thursday’s game. Washington coach Todd Reirden said Wilson is “day-to-day” 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 Tuesday’s game: “He ran into a lion in the jungle.”

Inscriptagraphs, a Las Vegas-based memorabilia dealer, called the photos the “must have Christmas Gift of the Year” 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 “were not distributed and they have been destroyed.”

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. Reaves’ 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. Louis’ Oskar Sundqvist in September. The NHL’s 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.

“Reaves targeted him the entire game,” Reirden said Tuesday. “You could hear it on every faceoff. You could hear the things that were being said. It’s a blindside hit where an unsuspecting player hits his head on the ice. That’s disappointing. You could put two and two together, but he targeted him the entire game, so you can figure that out from there.”

The Capitals face the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night and visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Ryan Reaves’ hit on Tom Wilson of the Capitals in Tuesday’s game was deemed unsuitable for framing.  (David Becker / GETTY IMAGES)