The Toronto Maple Leafs have bolstered their ahead lineup this offseason and have an opportunity to make a robust push for his or her first Stanley Cup since 1967. With Max Domi returning on a four-year deal, in addition to Connor Dewar coming again, on prime of their robust defensive additions in Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the Maple Leafs have made it clear that they need to contend for a championship this season. One participant who could discover himself on the surface wanting in as soon as the season will get underway is enforcer Ryan Reaves, who could also be headed for a commerce if he can’t discover his footing and start contributing in his depth function within the Maple Leafs’ backside six this season.
Associated: Maple Leafs Mailbag: Core 4, Alex Nylander & Current Playoff Failures
Reaves signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs final summer time and is now getting into the second season of that deal. At 37 years outdated, Reaves was initially introduced in so as to add a bodily facet to their lineup many followers across the league believed they didn’t have. With a median annual worth of $1.35 million on his deal, there was perception the worth was a bit steep for a veteran who’s declining and one in every of few pure enforcers left within the NHL. The Maple Leafs took an opportunity on him, however the match hasn’t labored since he joined the staff.
Reaves’ Persona Helps Maple Leafs, However Children Might Breakthrough
Reaves has persistently been seen as some of the entertaining folks within the NHL, as off the ice he has a comedic persona that resonates with followers, and he has at all times been seen as somebody you’ll like to have in your staff however would hate to play towards. Sadly for Reaves, his persona and expertise within the NHL haven’t been sufficient to ensure him a spot within the lineup each evening. Final season, Reaves was a wholesome scratch and was stored out of the Maple Leafs’ lineup on quite a few events and it appeared he was being pushed out of the staff by the teaching employees. He ended up showing in 49 video games, recording six factors.
Whereas Reaves is somebody the staff can use once they want some bodily play, it’s protected to imagine he signed with the Maple Leafs as a result of he wished to play and assist contribute towards their purpose of successful a Stanley Cup. With Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann breaking out in an enormous means final season, it pushed Reaves additional down the depth chart. Nick Abruzzese, Alex Steeves, and even Nick Robertson will all be seeking to take a spot away from Reaves this season out of coaching camp, and with the way in which issues are trending, I might financial institution on Reaves being the odd man out and the staff’s entrance workplace exploring a commerce.
Regardless of Robertson being granted permission to hunt a commerce, he’ll possible wind up at Maple Leafs; coaching camp and attempt to crack their opening evening roster to show he’s prepared for an NHL job elsewhere. Whereas having robust ahead depth isn’t a nasty factor for a staff, it turns into a problem when somebody like Reaves doesn’t need to sit within the press field as his profession comes close to its finish. He could not be capable of present robust offensive manufacturing on any given evening, however his management and bodily potential might assist a younger staff going via a rebuild.
With that stated, there are a number of groups who’ve the cash out there to convey Reaves in and provides him a barely elevated function. The San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Calgary Flames all come to thoughts as golf equipment who might use Reaves in some capability, however there haven’t been any rumblings of a commerce up till this level. On the finish of the day, Reaves must come to coaching camp and earn a spot, or he could have one other robust season forward of him.
