Speculation Begins to Surround Maple Leafs and Veteran Ryan Reaves

Ryan Reaves is a very well respected veteran with 910 regular season games under his belt, 15 seasons played with 6 teams, and over 1,100 PIMs with a ton of fighting majors to his credit.

When he signed his 3-year contract worth a total of $4.05 million dollars with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 2023, he was brought over for one reason and one reason alone: his physicality.

The Maple Leafs lacked his snarl, grit, physicality, aggression, and overall aura at the time. In his first season in Toronto, he tallied 49 PIMs in 49 games, which included 7 fighting majors, while also adding 165 hits and 6 points. This season, he has just 1 fighting major, 28 PIMs, and 97 hits in 33 games.

He has often been made a healthy scratch and while fighting isn't a major concern for teams in the modern game, Reaves' sole purpose of being in the lineup, it seems, is being mitigated. Outside of his physicality, there isn't much else he brings to the table, which doesn't help when he accounts for a $1.35 million AAV and a roster spot.

With Calle Jarnkrok expected to make his season debut perhaps this week, the Maple Leafs will have to find a roster spot for the Swedish forward while also accounting for his $2.1 million AAV and Reaves could become a direct casualty.

The Leafs' bottom-6 is going to be crowded very soon once Jarnkrok and Max Pacioretty return from their respective injuries. With the likes of Pontus Holmberg, Bobby McMann, Max Domi, Nicholas Robertson, David Kampf, and Steven Lorentz playing meaningful minutes, Reaves has no room on the roster.

Placing Reaves on waivers would clear some much needed cap space and if he goes unclaimed, he can report to the Toronto Marlies and be recalled if and when the Leafs need an extra body for some added toughness.

While none of the aforementioned players bring the same element of physicality as Reaves does, they still have 3 forwards with over 100 hits on the season and another 3 tracking towards the 100-hit mark, while also helping the team in other categories.

The Leafs have a good mix of forwards on the roster that are multi-dimensional, which has made Reaves' roster spot obsolete. When fully healthy, Toronto can roll 4 lines that can bring the boom while also having the penchant to score goals. This, along with many other factors, may soon render Reaves' presence on the roster unnecessary.