Leafs veteran enforcer could become salary cap casualty
Reaves on the trade block dude to his lacklustre hockey skills.
The Leafs have been in win-now mode for a while now, with their core being in the prime of their careers. When you are in this position, you have no room for bad contracts that can anchor your team's progress. Some contracts are bad as soon as they're signed, and some take time to show just how bad they are.
When the Leafs signed Ryan Reaves, many hockey fans were very confused. Despite only being only $1.35M, it was the 3 year term of this contract that made the contract so questionable. Ryan Reaves is a pure enforcer and signed this contract at 36, making the term very difficult. To no one's surprise now, just one year after the contract was signed the Leafs are looking to get out from under this cap hit.
The Leafs are actively shopping Reaves to get rid of his contract. Reaves only played 49 games for the Leafs last year, finishing at a -13 and only 6 points. He was never signed for his point totals, but being a defensive liability is the opposite of what you want from a stable fourth liner.
It's no doubt that the Leafs have always been looking for physicality, and Reaves has done a great job at protecting the Leafs' superstar players. Reaves only got an average of 8:07 minutes a night on ice however and can't contribute to the physicality if he is always making simple defensive lapses.
There are many teams in the league that could use a guy like Reaves, especially if the other two players can make up for his lack of defense. If you can play him with a great fourth line shutdown center, he can still throw the body and fight anyone on the ice. Reaves is one of the toughest at what he does and the market for protection for stars is always open.
There are many teams who aren't as capable-strapped as the Leafs are and could easily afford his meager cap hit. It'll be interesting to see if the Leafs can get a return out of him, or if they have to dump him for free.
| POLL | ||
Would you trade for Reaves if you were a GM? | ||
| Yes, he's still useful in his role | 44 | 33.3 % |
| No, he shouldn't be playing hockey anymore | 88 | 66.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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