Reaves’ Future with the Maple Leafs is Both Certain and Uncertain.
During the 2023 offseason, Ryan Reaves signed a three-year, $4.05 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The experienced big man is known for his ferocity and nasty play style. It’s something the Maple Leafs require. When he was signed, new Maple Leafs general manager (GM) Brad Treliving made it obvious that he chose Reaves for two reasons: first, his tenacity, and second, his reputation for energising the locker room.
While many Maple Leafs fans questioned why the organisation needed to sign away so much of its valuable salary-cap space, his arrival was also positively embraced by fans who expected Reaves’ toughness and physicality to extend beyond the lineup. The hope was that he would provide an edge that would propel the squad to the next level – deep into the postseason.
Reaves wasted no time flexing his Maple Leafs’ muscles. In his Maple Leafs debut, Reaves made an immediate impact. He played tough, earning a five-minute fighting penalty and three hits in Toronto’s 6-5 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens. At the moment, his performance established the tone for what his job may be. At the very least, he explained to fans why he signed.
However, as the season continued, Reaves struggled to establish his footing inside the Maple Leafs’ system. He couldn’t keep up and ended up being a healthy scratch against the Vancouver Canucks. Following the game, his ice time decreased. As a result, most fans were concerned that any physical impact he made on the game was not worth the expense, both financially and on the ice. Reaves scored his first goal as a Maple Leafs player.
Reaves ultimately scored his first goal for the Maple Leafs in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The goal was scored by redirecting a Jake McCabe pass. However, Reaves’ ups and downs persisted. His ice time came to an end when he was forced to depart a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to a lower-body ailment. The severity of the injury remained unknown; nonetheless, it provided an opportunity for other players to step up in his absence.
