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Maple Leafs Forward Admits to Seeing the 'Writing on the Wall'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 27, 2025 5:58 AM ET

Veteran Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves was demoted to the AHL for the first time in 14 years, with a few weeks left in the regular season after the franchise waived him ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.

Now, Reaves knows he might have already played his final NHL game after competing in the NHL for 15 consecutive seasons since debuting in the 2010-11 campaign.

The 38-year-old veteran enforcer addressed his demotion to the AHL and uncertain future in an interview with Sportsnet’s Luke Fox.

Reaves offered a candid reflection on a difficult season with the Maple Leafs in which he was barely a secondary actor, if one at all.

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“You can see the writing on the wall,” Reaves said. “You’re not playing. You’re not really involved anymore. That’s just naturally what’s going to happen when they’re trying to make a move.”

Once Reaves cleared waivers and was assigned to the Toronto Marlies, he played three games for the AHL affiliate. Reaves, however, made clear that the minors are no place for a player in his situation.

“It’s not somewhere I want to go back to, but that’s the nature of the business,” Reaves said. “Not a lot of 38-year-olds down there. So, not really tailored for guys like me.”

The Leafs signed Reaves to a three-year, $4.05 million contract in July 2023, but he appeared in just 35 NHL games this season with one more year left in his deal. He last dressed for the Leafs on March 3.

A buyout remains on the table and, if executed, Toronto would carry a $450,000 cap hit in each of the next two seasons while saving $900,000 next year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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