Reaves was assessed a match penalty and ejected from Toronto's 4-3 overtime win on Saturday.
Ryan Reaves is scheduled for a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety (DOPS), the league's disciplinary authority announced on X on Sunday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was ejected during the second period of the game after delivering an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. The incident drew immediate attention from officials and the league, leading to Reaves' upcoming disciplinary review.
Given the severity of the hit, Reaves is expected to face a suspension. Historically, in approximately 99 percent of cases where the NHL schedules a hearing, the player involved ends up receiving some form of suspension. In this instance, since it is a regular phone hearing rather than an in-person meeting, the suspension will be capped at five games or fewer.
DOPS will evaluate all factors surrounding the incident, including the nature of the hit, whether Nurse sustained any injuries, and Reaves' prior disciplinary record. Notably, Reaves has been suspended three times previously, totaling six games missed. One of those incidents occurred during the 2020 NHL Playoffs, when Reaves, then with the Vegas Golden Knights, was penalized for an illegal check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Motte.
The Oilers and Leafs players both react to the hit following Toronto's 4-3 overtime win. Following the game, it appeared Reaves made an effort to apologize to Nurse, though the gesture likely won't affect the league's decision.
In the meantime, the Maple Leafs are bracing for Reaves' absence in the near term. If suspended, the Leafs will not be able to use his roster slot to call up another player.