The NHL veteran spoke highly of 6-foot-8 1/2 Rempe on Monday before the Leafs hosted the Bruins.
The two squared off in a highly anticipated bout during the third period of the Rangers 4-3 shootout loss to the Leafs.
“He’s going to be a menace in the league,” Reaves said, according to USA Today.
“He’s definitely the longest (person) I’ve ever fought,” Reaves, an ex-Rangers pugilist, added. “He’s like 6-9 or something. He’s just really lanky, for sure the biggest guy I ever fought.”
It took two invitations by Reaves for Rempe to drop the gloves and the fight lasted roughly a minute before the linesmen jumped in to put an end to it.
The crowd erupted when the two finally went at it and Reaves said that Rempe was “a really nice humble kid” when the two talked in the penalty box.
Rempe explained to The Post’s Mollie Walker on Monday that “there was no need” to fight when Reaves tried to go in the first period since the Rangers had the momentum.
“Then I picked my spot better,” he said. “We’re down, maybe need something, need some energy there. Also, when you’re getting openly challenged like that — we can say no and stuff — but me, I’m a competitor.”
Saturday had been the first time that Rempe had declined a fight since making his NHL debut last month.
Reaves noted the anticipation for a fight between the two and explained that it showed that fans still liked fighting in the game, despite efforts to eliminate it from hockey.
“It was almost cool to see because it shows that fighting is not dead in this sport,” Reaves said. “People still kind of get amped up for it and enjoy that part.”
Rempe has enjoyed a bit of celebrity since entering the league and finding himself throwing down.
In his first five NHL games, he fought four times.
This story originally appeared on NYPost