Just one day after Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward Ryan Reaves was surprisingly candid as to the status of his health, the team activated the 37-year-old forward off injured reserve on Tuesday.
In a profile written by Sportsnet’s Luke Fox and published on Monday, Reaves said he’s “been ready for a couple weeks now,” despite being on injured reserve since Dec. 14. He said he wasn’t sure why he hasn’t been in the lineup.
“That’s a question for them. I am not in those rooms, in those conversations. I’m not going to speculate anything,” Reaves said in Fox’s story. “Just stay ready. And if I get called upon, I do. If I don’t, I get my work in.”
Reaves was signed by the Maple Leafs on July 1, inking a three-year, $4.05 million deal with $1.35 million per season. In 21 games, Reaves has one goal and 16 penalty minutes. Before being injured, Reaves was a healthy scratch for several games, and right now seems like he’s on the outside looking in, with more than 12 forwards on Toronto’s roster ahead of him on the depth chart.
In other Maple Leafs news, forward Tyler Bertuzzi has been designated as a non-roster player as he spends time with his wife who is awaiting the birth of a child. Since he’s designated a non-roster player, he does not count against the team’s 23-man roster limit while he’s away.
In 45 games this season, Bertuzzi has scored six goals and 14 assists for 20 points and 22 penalty minutes. The 28-year-old winger signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Maple Leafs in the offseason.
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