With a stronger forward lineup, the Maple Leafs’ enforcer might be traded.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have strengthened their forward lines this offseason and are poised to make a strong push for their first Stanley Cup since 1967. The Maple Leafs have made it obvious that they plan to compete for a championship this season, with Max Domi returning on a four-year contract, Connor Dewar returning, and good defensive signings in Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. One player who may find himself on the outside looking in once the season begins is enforcer Ryan Reaves, who could be traded if he fails to establish his footing and contribute in his depth role in the Maple Leafs’ bottom six this season.
The Maple Leafs signed Reaves to a three-year contract last summer, and he is now in his second season. At 37 years old, Reaves was originally brought in to give a physical component to their team that many fans in the league believed they lacked. With an average annual value of $1.35 million on his contract, there were concerns that the price was too high for a veteran in decline and one of the NHL’s few true enforcers. The Maple Leafs took a risk on him, but he hasn’t fit in with the team since joining.
Reaves’ personality helps Maple Leafs, but younger players could breakthrough.
Reaves has constantly been regarded as one of the most entertaining players in the NHL, with a comic demeanor that appeals to fans off the ice, and he has always been seen as someone you would want on your side but would hate to play against. Unfortunately for Reaves, his charm and NHL experience have not been enough to keep him in the lineup every night. Last season, Reaves was a healthy scratch and was frequently left out of the Maple Leafs’ lineup, and it appeared like the coaching staff was pushing him out of the team. He ended up participating in 49 games and scoring six points.
Ryan Reaves Toronto Maple Leafs
While Reaves is someone the team can rely on for hard play, it’s safe to believe he joined with the Maple Leafs because he wanted to play and contribute to the team’s objective of winning the Stanley Cup. Last season, Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann made significant contributions, pushing Reaves farther down the depth chart. Nick Abruzzese, Alex Steeves, and even Nick Robertson will all be vying for a job away from Reaves this season after training camp, and with the way things are going, I would expect Reaves to be the odd man out for the team’s front office to look into trading him.
Despite being granted permission to seek a trade, Robertson will most likely attend Maple Leafs training camp and attempt to make the team’s opening night roster to demonstrate his readiness for an NHL position elsewhere. While having good forward depth is always beneficial to a team, it becomes problematic when someone like Reaves refuses to sit in the press box as his career comes to an end. He may not be able to deliver great offensive performance every night, but his leadership and physical ability could benefit a young club in rebuilding mode.
Having said that, there are a few teams with the money to bring Reaves in and give him a somewhat larger role. The San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Calgary Flames are all teams that might use Reaves in some form, but no trade rumors have surfaced up to this point. At the end of the day, Reaves must attend training camp and earn a position, or he may face another challenging season.
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