Confirmed with Link: TOR sign F Zach Aston-Reese to a PTO

[Stephen]

If they are hits and he is responsible defensively, I am happy. Everyone talks about the grind during playoffs, and now people just want bone-crunching hits? I'll take this and NAK on a 4th line just being annoying and hitting people, don't really want Clifford running around trying to kill everyone and getting scored on.

They're going to be two small wrecking balls.

 

[saska sault]

I bet no one can guess who owned his OHL rights.... Dubas isnt even trying to hide it anymore.

 

[Buds17]

Not exactly a dearth of competition in the lower part of the lineup at forward. That said, I still think ZAR has more than a fighting chance to win a spot on this team.

 

[leafsfan5]

This guy has really interesting stats to look at.

Even if we dismiss the analytic charts showing him with the 6th best xGA out of the 326 forwards to play 1500+ 5v5 minutes the last 3 seasons, how does he do with more solid numbers? Actual hits, goals against, and differentials?

5v5 Ozone start%: 33.17 (14th lowest out of 326)
Hits/60: 13.12 (15th most out of 326)
Actual 5v5 goals against/60 the last 3 years: 1.55 (3rd lowest out of 326, 1st fewest REL)
Actual 5v5 goal differential/60 the last 3 years: 56.27% (62nd out of 326, pretty much identical to Crosby's GF%)

He may suck in a lot of ways but he was sure effective out there in his role IMO. Buried in defensive zone starts and apparently one of the hardest forwards in the league to score goals against.

Considering our 4th line was certainly an issue last season, I'll take those numbers all day. It seemed to translate over to the Ducks (along with his ability to blow offensive chances) but the end results look good to me. It's not a small sample here. It's a full 3 years with even better relative numbers for both underlying AND outcomes.

I'm surprised he's still available but who knows what's going on behind the scenes.

This is why I'm a fan of this. If nothing else, it removes Simmonds/Clifford from the lineup

 

[Anthrax442]

This is why I'm a fan of this. If nothing else, it removes Simmonds/Clifford from the lineup

Both shouldnt be on the team.

 

[The Iceman]

I agree there would have been a discussion. Why sign a PTO two weeks before camp though if a contract has been worked out?

All I can think of is it backs management into a corner deeper with another contract on the books (49-50) and less cap space making it all the more obvious that the team has to shed a salary.

 

[ACC1224]

All I can think of is it backs management into a corner deeper with another contract on the books (49-50) and less cap space making it all the more obvious that the team has to shed a salary.

Why would the player care about that?

 

[LeafChief]

Why would the player care about that?

He wants to play on the East coast. Oilers tried to sign him and he declined. Reported by Friedman.

 

[Stephen]

I bet no one can guess who owned his OHL rights.... Dubas isnt even trying to hide it anymore.

Would actually be curious to have a list of Soo alumni in pro hockey and just track how many become Leafs over the next little while. Chicago Steel too.

 

[LeafEgo]

He wants to play on the East coast. Oilers tried to sign him and he declined. Reported by Friedman.

That's bizarre, they have to wait until we're done with him first.

 

[al secord]

Bottom line players prioritize guaranteed money over a cup shot. I doubt he’s banked that much in his career that he puts winning above all else.

If he succeeds here he knows he'll get 5 x 5 from Edmonton next year

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Both shouldnt be on the team.

Simmonds is cooked that was clear last season

 

[saska sault]

Would actually be curious to have a list of Soo alumni in pro hockey and just track how many become Leafs over the next little while. Chicago Steel too.

While the Soo hasn't been able to get over the hump with winning an OHL championship despite some great teams, they really do produce a lot of prospects sine Dubas/Raftis took over. Would be curious how they rank amongst the rest of the CHL.

 

[Frostitute]

Really doubling down on his old strategy of soft players with good analytics. Might as well go out as he came in.

ZAR is anything but "soft" good sir.

 

[crump]

ZAR is anything but "soft" good sir.

Agree. Here is the full game when Leafs lost to the Pens 7-1 last season. His first shift he had 2 solid hits and an intercepted pass to Matthews in the high slot. (he's number 12)

Painful to watch this game, but he was a part of that full team effort from the Pens that night. I think he ended up with 10 hits.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Would actually be curious to have a list of Soo alumni in pro hockey and just track how many become Leafs over the next little while. Chicago Steel too.

Here ya go, highlighted ones still in league.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Alumni | Hockey-Reference.com

List of players that played amateur hockey for Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

www.hockey-reference.com

 

[KPower]

Another guy in the bottom 6 that won’t score in the playoffs.

 

[Brown Dog]

Any thoughts on why he accepted a PTO?
Shirley some team must have offered him at least a minimum contract.

"Don't call me Shirley."

 

[Christ]

Guess we need to trade Matthews to make cap up some space for this dude...

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Not exactly a dearth of competition in the lower part of the lineup at forward. That said, I still think ZAR has more than a fighting chance to win a spot on this team.

I would argue it is the exact opposite: Engvall, Jarnkrok, NAK, Kampf, Malgin, Anderson, Steeves, Robertson, Abruzzese, Holmberg, Gaudette, Simmonds, Clifford, and McMann. The first four will have guaranteed jobs, so ZAR will have to steal one of two job from the latter guys... And more than 2 of them are good enough to play in the NHL right now.

 

[Menzinger]

I wonder if there's a back pocket deal for ZAR, and conversely, a drop dead date for Ol' Rasmus.

Probably the case for both

 

[Mess]

Players most nervous by the ZAR PTO .. Denis Malgin, Adam Gaudette, Nicholas Aube-Kubel.

 

[NinjaKick]

nothing wrong with a little competition and depth

low risk, high reward

 

[Pyrophorus]

As much as I love his 99% defensive rating, I think we're still missing scoring.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

As much as I love his 99% defensive rating, I think we're still missing scoring.

That is what the prospects (Robertson, Malgin, Anderson, etc.) are competing to bring. ZAR would also allow Engvall to take on more of an offensive role. 32 non-PP points in a mostly defensive role with mostly defensive players. May be able to get 20-20 if he has the right opportunities.

The main focus has to be getting more out of the 4th line. Clifford, Simmonds, and Spezza were liabilities at both ends of the ice at ES, and we need Engvall, Malgin, Anderson, Robertson, Jarnkrok, Kerfoot, or whoever else is there to provide better value at both ends. There is no reason why they should not be able to dominate the other teams' bottom 6 lines.