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Ryan Reaves now plays for the Vegas Golden Knights.
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The Ryan Reaves Era comes to a close in Pittsburgh

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

The Ryan Reaves Era comes to a close in Pittsburgh

Perhaps if someone messes with his players, general manager Jim Rutherford will walk out onto the ice and take care of business himself.

It might be strange — not to mention illegal — but it could become necessary, as Ryan Reaves no longer plays hockey for the Penguins.

Reaves was shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday along with the fourth-round pick the Penguins got from Vancouver in the Derrick Pouliot trade as part of the massive package that landed them Derick Brassard.

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The loss of Reaves abruptly ends one of the most controversial Penguins careers in recent memory.

Derick Brassard celebrates his goal in the second period against the  Penguins at the Consol Energy Center in 2016.
Sam Werner
Players react to Penguins’ acquisition of Derick Brassard

Fifty percent of the fanbase seemed to like Reaves for his toughness and off-ice personality. The other half saw no reason whatsoever for his presence.

In 58 games, Reaves contributed four goals and eight points. His production picked up recently, although the beginning of the season was a struggle for Reaves, who rarely got more than 5-6 minutes a night.

It’s doubtful that’s what the Penguins had in mind when they acquired Reaves at the NHL Draft over the summer, shipping out a first-round pick (though getting a second-rounder back) in order to do it.

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Rutherford made that move because he felt that opposing teams were taking liberties with his star players, a stance debated — and mostly bashed — in the analytics community.

But inside the Penguins dressing room, Reaves was a beloved figure. He and Phil Kessel became fast friends, even though Reaves scared the daylights out of Kessel with a Halloween mask. Reaves and Sidney Crosby seemed to strike up a friendship as well.

Rutherford, along with coach Mike Sullivan, sang Reaves’ praises and insisted that teams played the Penguins differently this season.

“He did exactly what we wanted him to do,” Rutherford said. “He always kept game calm. I really felt he was playing his best hockey for us the last 2-3 weeks. But again, that was a player that one of these teams insisted on having. So we had to do it.”

Matt Hunwick will probably see the biggest uptick in ice time as a result of Ian Cole's departure.
Sam Werner
Replacing Ian Cole's defensive presence will be a team effort for the Penguins

One reason Reaves probably became expendable has nothing to do with his skill set.

Bringing in Brassard bumped Riley Sheahan down to the fourth line. Sullivan prefers a right-handed faceoff option, and former fourth-line center Carter Rowney provides that. Rowney can all kill penalties, something Reaves can’t do. Shifting Rowney to wing, which the Penguins appear ready to do, robs Reaves of his lineup spot.

No longer having a player whose game is predicated on violence — don’t discount the Penguins shipping out Ian Cole, either — figures to spur an interesting discussion: Is this stuff even necessary in hockey?

It’s likely not the way the Penguins plan to play the game, which with Brassard figures to include goals, goals and more goals.

It should not include many fights. Unless, of course, Rutherford makes a habit of policing things himself.

Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.

First Published: February 24, 2018, 2:35 a.m.

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Ryan Reaves now plays for the Vegas Golden Knights.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
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