Toronto Maple Leafs to waive Ryan Reaves just months after signing him?
On July 1st the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Ryan Reaves to a 3 year contract. Brad Treliving made a point to emphasize that the team needed to add more "snot" to the lineup, a box Reaves definitely checks. When Reaves signed his deal there were many who questioned the length of his deal.
Fans were surprised that the Leafs were willing to commit 3 years to Reaves, but according to Leafs Network News, that deal may have been signed with the intention of the Leafs waiving Reaves prior to the regular season.
Unless there's a trade ahead of time, I still think Reaves hits waivers early on as a pure flexibility move.
He won't get claimed with his contract. He's not an 82-game player and the Leafs would be forced to play the exact same players if he's part of a 20-man roster.
I think it ends up being close to a Simmonds situation, but he'll likely play more than Simmonds did last year. He'll be yo-yoed, but it'll be paper transactions, and he'll never actually play AHL games. The inflated AAV and extra term will ensure TOR can get away with it.
It's difficult to imagine the Leafs would risk losing Reaves, but with the salary cap continuing to rise his deal will become able to be fully buried after next season. However, it's impossible to know what could happen with the Leafs salary cap situation.
POLL |
If the Toronto Maple Leafs waiver Ryan Reaves would he be claimed? |
Yes, he'd be claimed | 367 | 39.8 % |
No, he would pass through | 433 | 47 % |
They'd never waive him | 121 | 13.1 % |
List of polls |
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