Maple Leafs Place Ryan Reaves On Waivers, Opening Up $1.15 Million In Cap Space Once Cleared

Reaves has two assists in 35 games with the Maple Leafs this season.

With just over 24 hours until the NHL trade deadline, the Maple Leafs have placed Ryan Reaves on waivers.

This move allows Toronto to shed at least $1.15 million in cap space once he clears waivers (which is expected) and is assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Once that occurs, the Maple Leafs will have just over $2 million in cap space ahead of Friday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline.

If he’s claimed, all of his $1.35 million will be removed from the team’s cap structure.

Reaves has two assists in 35 games this season with Toronto. He has one more year on his contract with the Maple Leafs, with an annual average value of $1.35 million.

Toronto has reportedly been interested in Scott Laughton and Brayden Schenn to shore up its center depth. Both players have a cap hit higher (Laughton at $3 million and Schenn at $6.5 million) than what the Maple Leafs have in space, but Toronto is said to be looking for salary retention.

“We’re all looking to better our team if we can. That’s the best way I put it,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Wednesday.

Toronto sits atop the Atlantic division with the Florida Panthers, who hold the tiebreaker over the Maple Leafs. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who’ve added several players ahead of the deadline, are three points behind with a game in hand.

The Panthers have acquired Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks while the Lightning have added Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken.

“Knowing what we know, management’s going to do the best that they can. I think all we can do is trust in them. I mean, of course, you’d love to see a boost,” Auston Matthews said on Wednesday following Toronto’s morning skate in Las Vegas.

“I think with the way we’ve played this year, the position that we’re in right now, we feel really confident, really good about our team, our group. But at this time of year, you see teams adding, and you want to add as well.”

Reaves signed a three-year, $4.05 million contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1, 2023. He has four goals and four assists in 84 games with the club. Reaves has also registered 268 hits and 77 penalty minutes.

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