If the Leafs need to create some cap space, there's one logical place to start
The Toronto Maple Leafs don't have much cap space left to work with, but if they'd like to open some up, moving Ryan Reaves is a logical place to start.
While there are a few forwards on the team who could be moved, like David Kampf or Calle Jarnkrok, a decent place to start is to move the most replaceable forward of them all -- Ryan Reaves.
Reaves is a real likeable guy. He's among one of the last true enforcers left in the NHL, a dying breed of player. Pure pugilists of a bygone era who ignore the puck in favour of fisticuffs. Toronto fans have loved guys like this for generations. Max Domi's father, Tie, is a borderline god in this town still to this day.
For all the energy a big hit or fight can bring, for all the good he can do in the dressing room, Reaves just doesn't bring much on the ice. He produces very few points and sees 5-8 minutes of ice time per game. The team is simply more likely to be scored on when he's on the ice, and he still spends half the time in the penalty box.
I like Reaves, but his $1.35 million cap hit is better spent elsewhere. Facts are facts. He's 37. He is what he is and will not get better. Simply put, the Leafs' bottom six doesn't score enough and Reaves doesn't help them solve that problem. He can easily be replaced with a player who makes league minimum and they could very well add something they need, such as a penalty killing forward who can also provide them with 8-12 goals.
For those who view the Ryan Reaves deal as one that would be difficult to move, it's not like we're talking about a guy who makes $5.35M here. It's $1.35M, less than double the league minimum. The Leafs wouldn't even have to attach a prime asset to Reaves to move him. A prospect or a future mid-to-late round pick would probably do the trick.
PuckPedia is currently showing the Maple Leafs with $1.275M in remaining cap space with a 21-man roster. Shedding Reavo's salary would put the Leafs at $2.625M in available space, which could go a long way. Moving one of Kampf or Jarnkrok as well, as previously mentioned, would open up $2.1M-$2.4M in additional space, giving the Leafs anywhere between $4.7M and a little over $5M to add another impact piece. There are plenty of ways for the Leafs to continue to improve this roster, but if the ultimate goal is to improve on the ice, it all starts with moving Ryan Reaves.
Source for stats: NHL.com
Ryan Reaves stats and bio
| POLL | ||
AOUT 3 | 2016 ANSWERS If the Leafs need to create some cap space, there's one logical place to start If you could only move one player this summer, who would it be? | ||
| Calle Jarnkrok | 200 | 9.9 % |
| David Kampf | 435 | 21.6 % |
| Nick Robertson | 466 | 23.1 % |
| Ryan Reaves | 915 | 45.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
