Ryan Reaves' Future With Maple Leafs Officially in Doubt After New Insider Report
Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs could end up cutting ties with veteran enforcer Ryan Reaves in the coming weeks according to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.
With Brad Treliving exclaiming that he wants to 'change the DNA' of the Maple Leafs come next season, there's a few ways he can go about doing that.
He could end up trading a bloated contract like Max Domi or Morgan Rielly's but that's easier said than done. While they have several buyout candidates, there is one who sticks out like a sore thumb and needs to be let go: Ryan Reaves.
Ryan Reaves has no place in the Maple Leafs lineup
Speaking on his 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman explained the Maple Leafs could end up cutting ties with low-level talent in order to free up cap and roster space this summer:
I do think they are going to contemplate buyouts at the bottom of the lineup, and I think they are gonna investigate everything they can to make their forward group better.
While he didn't explicitly state Reaves as a player to be taken off the roster, it's pretty clear he doesn't really have a role anymore.
Ryan Reaves fighting for his NHL career
It's not just the Maple Leafs he might not end up fighting to stay with, but his career as a whole.
Playing an archaic and forgotten style of hockey, the role of enforcer has essentially died out and for Reaves; who doesn't offer much offense or defense, the writing is on the wall.
He skated in 35 games this season, but only had two assists, one fight, and 103 hits. While he did run around throwing hits, he barely did anything else and the main focal point of his game was eliminated (though Reaves certainly tried).
Waived at the deadline in order to open up roster space, he rarely played with the Marlies either and never saw playoff time.
He is a 15-year veteran, though only has 137 points in 912 games; but he does have 1,100 PIM with a career 102 fights (regular season) though the number of scraps has dropped dramatically over the past few seasons.
If there's one regret Brad Treliving might have it's signing him to a three-year, $4.05M deal two years ago, and with no real spot left in the lineup, especially since he doesn't offer much for Craig Berube; they need to cut ties.
It's not much but it opens up a roster spot and cap space, two crucial elements the team needs to change their DNA.
That starts with getting rid of Ryan Reaves. Nothing personal, it's just business.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 2 | 559 ANSWERS Ryan Reaves' Future With Maple Leafs Officially in Doubt After New Insider Report Has Ryan Reaves played his last season with the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 498 | 89.1 % |
| No | 61 | 10.9 % |
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