Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign F Ryan Reaves (3 years, $1.3M AAV)

[the Mighty Oak]

For league minimum fine but anything more and multiple years is not cool. He is already 36

I’d target Tom Wilson if we have to go that route. Caps are kinda restocking anyway, they may be convinced to do that for us

Like Kampf, he probably is getting offers for higher aav, So the Leafs will counter that by giving him an extra year and keeping his. aav Lower.

 

[JKG33]

For league minimum fine but anything more and multiple years is not cool. He is already 36

I’d target Tom Wilson if we have to go that route. Caps are kinda restocking anyway, they may be convinced to do that for us

Tom Wilson I'd absolutely love. A tough guy that can actually play. Reaves is a liability on the 4th line. Wilson is a threat in the top 6

 

[GoBuds14]

I totally understand the hesitation signing a 36 year to multiple years. But even in this new NHL, have you guys not seen how opposing teams have bullied our stars at times in the playoffs, particularly after the whistle…maybe this signing alleviates that (trying to be optimistic)

 

[robertmac43]

3 X 1.3 for a 36 year old? Please no.

 

[GoBuds14]

Tom Wilson I'd absolutely love. A tough guy that can actually play. Reaves is a liability on the 4th line. Wilson is a threat in the top 6

Tom Wilson is the top of my list, maybe it’s unrealistic who knows

 

[Metroid]

36 year old goon should be leauge min. Wtf over a mil??

 

[TorMapleJays]

Tom Wilson I'd absolutely love. A tough guy that can actually play. Reaves is a liability on the 4th line. Wilson is a threat in the top 6

Bring him in too.

 

[notbias]

I totally understand the hesitation signing a 36 year to multiple years. But even in this new NHL, have you guys not seen how opposing teams have bullied our stars at times in the playoffs, particularly after the whistle…maybe this signing alleviates that (trying to be optimistic)

if 8 mins a night of bad play alleviates something that doesn't really happen often, I will be shocked.

 

[francis246]

Can he still play though, can he keep up?

No reason why he can’t be a 13th for us

 

[justashadowof]

As long as teams don't pay more up front or use bonuses then 35+ contracts are buriable, correct?

 

[cyris]

Tom Wilson I'd absolutely love. A tough guy that can actually play. Reaves is a liability on the 4th line. Wilson is a threat in the top 6

This. I would love for this team to add some tough players who can actually play. Especially higher in the lineup.
Reeves doesn’t do that. He is a net negative when he is on the ice and any of the guys like Bennett or Tkachuk that people want him to go after won’t fight him. If he tries to go after them they will take the PP and be happy to do it.

 

[GoBuds14]

if 8 mins a night of bad play alleviates something that doesn't really happen often, I will be shocked.

It’d 100% be a move for the playoffs. Sam Bennett ran around all series knowing there was zero consequences. Montreal almost made Marner and Matthews cry. Maybe this is a terrible move I have no idea, but this team is always talked about as one of the easiest, softest teams to play against. Tired of them not giving any push back… ultimately this signing doesn’t move the needle, but I’d love the identity of this team to drastically change, something more similar to the Sundin era

 

[cyris]

As long as teams don't pay more up front or use bonuses then 35+ contracts are buriable, correct?

I believe so. There can’t be any signing bonuses or year over year variance in his salary.

 

[Dragao6]

That is and has been on the core. Dubas gave us a roster that could win every year and the core forgot how to score every year. He was finally willing to admit it didn't work and make changes and gets fired.

Now we are running it back, giving raises to everyone and signing plugs. Congrats guys it is so much better doing this with Matthews at 14M and Reaves in the press box.

He made changes but didn’t change what you even said was the problem…THE CORE
He gave the core huge raises preventing him to properly build a strong enough roster

He decided to bet on the core instead of moving on from some of them and making this team more of a playoff team

He is going to be a good gm
Unfortunatly he learned on the job while at the leafs killing these years we had with these high end skill guys

 

[Nineteen67]

This is just an incredibly stupid, knee-jerk move.

They say we need toughness? Great! I'll just get the toughest one of 'em all! This'll make Matthews and Marner score in the playoffs when we need them!

Just completely oblivious to the real needs of the team, and/or completely unwilling to pay the price to get the kind of players we need to balance out our top-6.

And we just wanted him so bad that we just had to lock him up right as free agency opened up. I just can't even.

Dubas would not be making moves like this. We needed changes but keeping the coach and the core 4, and adding a goon doesn't constitute change.

This is the bleakest offseason I can remember. There's zero reason for optimism right now.

Going into last season we saw they were determined to win one round to show progress and that this off-season would bring a reset/retool/rebuild because of the contract situations, the players they have and the limited resources in the minors and draft picks.

Having said, that signing Kampf to 4 yrs and retaining Keefe are head scratchers.

 

[fahad203]

Better be at league minimum Trev
Also better not be given a position just beacuse he is a free agent

McMann, Steeves, Holm needs opportunities.
Reaves better earn his role like everyone else

 

[PromisedLand]

Like Kampf, he probably is getting offers for higher aav, So the Leafs will counter that by giving him an extra year and keeping his. aav Lower.

For League minimum thats fine but anything more than that will be an issue. He is also a +35 contract; if he decides to retire it will count against the cap.

Leafs are already up there with their cap situation, not sure Reaves at anything 1M+ for multiple years is a risk that they should take.

I understand the sentiment that Leafs need toughness, but that "toughness" has to come from the core players first and foremost to have any kind of success.

Just look at the scrums we had last season, Matthews, Nylander and Marner stay away from scrums like a bunch of soft candy ass children. Reaves isn't changing that.

 

[Hellcat]

Sprong is not receiving a qualifying offer, 11:25 ATOI and 21 goals? Size, speed, skill. What am I missing here? Sign him, trade Willie?


Daniel Sprong • RW
Status : On roster
Ht/Wt : 6'0", 200 lbs.
Born : Mar 17, 1997 (26 yrs) in Amsterdam, NED
Experience : 7 years
Drafted : Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2015 (2/46).
Acquired : Acquired in a trade with Washington in 2022.
Shoots : R

SCOUTING REPORT

A tremendous skater, he was a high-scoring forward in junior hockey and the AHL, but is still trying to put all the pieces together as he enters his NHL prime. He is a creative playmaker who also has a good shot and can finish at the net. Is excellent in shootouts. Still needs to add strength to win more puck battles and create additional space. Consistency eludes him.
Long Range Potential : Scoring winger with room to grow.

 

[Dragao6]

This. I would love for this team to add some tough players who can actually play. Especially higher in the lineup.
Reeves doesn’t do that. He is a net negative when he is on the ice and any of the guys like Bennett or Tkachuk that people want him to go after won’t fight him. If he tries to go after them they will take the PP and be happy to do it.

Bertuzzi, Jeanot, Orrielly, Wilson would be nice
We don’t need a gooone just guys that play hard

 

[PromisedLand]

Tom Wilson is the top of my list, maybe it’s unrealistic who knows

he is a pending UFA with a 5.1 AAV cap hit. Caps probably can be convinced to trade him. We just have to find a good deal where we don't get screwed and caps hopefully retain on his cap while trading; and he is will to re-sign something like a 4 to 4.5 AAV for 4 or 5 years.

Bertuzzi is another one I'd target after dealing one of Nylander or Marner (marner will be difficult as it is already July 1st and his nmc/ntc has kicked in). There is absolutely no way Leafs should be paying Nylander 10+ AAV and kill the quality depth that is needed in a cap world.

 

[ULF_55]

Actually, if you put it in perspective this is a nothing signing.

He's a 4th. liner who won't get into every line-up.

He isn't really going to deter anyone, he isn't going to be on the ice against good players. He'll be the "staged" fight after something happens, then go to the box and from the box back to the bench.

 

[fahad203]

he is a pending UFA with a 5.1 AAV cap hit. Caps probably can be convinced to trade him. We just have to find a good deal where we don't get screwed and caps hopefully retain on his cap while trading; and he is will to re-sign something like a 4 to 4.5 AAV for 4 or 5 years.

Bertuzzi is another one I'd target after dealing one of Nylander or Marner (marner will be difficult as it is already July 1st and his nmc/ntc has kicked in). There is absolutely no way Leafs should be paying Nylander 10+ AAV and kill the quality depth that is needed in a cap world.

Bertuzzi was a great acquisation for Bruins. He lived up to the trade and did everything he could for them to win
For all his bad rep for not getting vaccinated, being apparently a hard case, he kept his head down and delivered

Wouldn't mind him, but in a weak FA he's going to get a lot of eyes on him

 

[GoonieFace]

Tom Wilson I'd absolutely love. A tough guy that can actually play. Reaves is a liability on the 4th line. Wilson is a threat in the top 6

So would 31 other teams, it’s not realistic. This would be a non issue paying a Reaves type $1.5 mil, if the rest of the roster was constructed properly. As long as Pigman and Stick boy keep bleeding the team dry of money, things will never change

 

[PromisedLand]

Actually, if you put it in perspective this is a nothing signing.

He's a 4th. liner who won't get into every line-up.

He isn't really going to deter anyone, he isn't going to be on the ice against good players. He'll be the "staged" fight after something happens, then go to the box and from the box back to the bench.

Leafs cap situation/allocation puts a signing like this in a different discussion compared to if someone else signed Reaves to a similar deal in the league. Leafs are already screwed based on their cap allocation.

IMO every dollar counts when spending money for the Leafs compared to other teams in the league.

 

[cyris]

Bertuzzi, Jeanot, Orrielly, Wilson would be nice
We don’t need a gooone just guys that play hard

I hate his contract but I’d love to know if Josh Anderson would play against other teams like he does against us if he was a Leafs lol

The point is there are definitely guys around the league who are tough and actually good players. Like Luke Schenn.
But Reeves isn’t one of them