Buyout incoming? Ryan Reaves speaks on Toronto Maple Leafs' future
When they take the ice next year, there’s a decent chance the Toronto Maple Leafs will have a largely different look from this year’s construction.
There are questions about the future of pending unrestricted free agents John Tavares and Mitch Marner, as well as restricted free agent Matthew Knies.
One player further down the roster who is under contract for another season — but might see his time with the team, and quite possibly, the NHL coming to an end — is 38-year-old veteran enforcer Ryan Reaves.
Having signed a three-year deal worth US$1.35 million per year in Toronto prior to the 2023-24 season, Reaves played just 35 games for the Leafs this past year, last suiting up on March 3.
Primarily known for his energy, personality, and yes, his fighting ability, Reaves also played three games for the Toronto Marlies after clearing waivers this season. But Reaves had just one fight this past season, picking up just two assists on the year.
With Reaves appearing to fall out of favour with Leafs coach Craig Berube’s preferred lineup — and not having much value around the league, given that he cleared waivers — the longtime NHL veteran isn’t guaranteed to have another go next season.
“You can see the writing on the wall. You’re not playing. You’re not really involved anymore. That’s just naturally what’s going to happen when they’re trying to make a move. You know, it was tough. I hadn’t played in the AHL for 15 years now. It’s not somewhere I want to go back to, but that’s the nature of the business,” Reaves told Sportsnet’s Luke Fox about getting sent down to the AHL. “Not a lot of 38-year-olds down there [in the AHL]. So, not really tailored for guys like me.”
If Toronto opts to buy him out, they’d be on the hook for a cap hit of US$450k each of the next two seasons, and US$900k in real money.
If they choose to bury his salary in the AHL for one more year, they’d still have to pay him his full amount of US$1.35 million, but only see a cap hit of US$200k for the next season if he remains stashed in the minors, per PuckPedia.
There’s likely not much of a trade market or free agency option for him either (pending a buyout), given that all 31 teams passed on him on waivers this season.
Only time will tell what the future holds, but there’s a very decent chance that Reaves has already skated his last game in the NHL.
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