Leafs edge out Oilers, sign former Penguins forward to PTO
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At the start of the off-season and after another first round exit, Kyle Dubas made it known that he wanted to revamp the Leafs' fourth line to make them harder to play against and make them a line that head coach Sheldon Keefe could trust and use more effectively. He began that process with the signing of recent Stanley Cup winner Nicolas Aube-Kubel to a one-year deal early in free agency.
Now it appears Dubas has his sights set on another "crash and bang" type player in Zach Aston-Reese. TSN's Chris Johnston has reported that the Leafs have signed Aston-Reese to a PTO.
If ZAR can turn his PTO into a deal with the Leafs, at 6'0 but 205 pounds, he would add a much needed physical presence to the Leafs' bottom six, similar to that of Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
Both are wrecking balls and hit everything in sight, but are also able to kill penalties and be defensively responsible. Having both of them on the fourth line would be a complete change of identity for the Leafs' bottom six, something that is much needed, particularly come playoff time.
Shrewd bit of work by Kyle Dubas here. I have a feeling Sheldon Keefe is going to love the style that Aston-Reese plays.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 9 | 555 ANSWERS Leafs edge out Oilers, sign former Penguins forward to PTO Will Zach Aston-Reese earn a contract with the Leafs following his PTO? | ||
| Yes | 465 | 83.8 % |
| No | 88 | 15.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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