Ryan Reaves on waivers and Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy's NHL career could be coming to an end
The Toronto Maple Leafs are making one of their most popular players available for free on the waiver market.
Enforcer Ryan Reaves, who has no goal and two assists in 35 games for the Leafs this year, was placed on waivers Thursday, as per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.
#NHL waivers today (March 6): Ryan Reaves (TOR).
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 6, 2025
Reaves is in the second year of a three-year deal worth US $1.35 million per season. During his time in Toronto, he’s become one of the team’s most outspoken personalities in the media despite having some of the lowest ice time on the team.
Though he’s never exactly been a big-minute player, Reaves has played some of the fewest minutes of his career, suiting up for just 7:48 per game this season.
At 38 years old, this could signal the end of Reaves’ NHL career if he goes unclaimed and is sent down to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. He briefly spent some time in the minor leagues in the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears but hasn’t been an AHL regular since the 2010-11 season with the Peoria Rivermen during his time with the St. Louis Blues.
However, the move could also simply be salary cap related, with the NHL trade deadline set for Friday at 3 p.m. EST.