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Ryan Reaves Situation Takes a Problematic Turn for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Originally posted on Maple Leafs Daily | By Nick Matthews | Last updated Mar 16, 2025 11:44 AM ET

Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves was waived ahead of the trade deadline to give the Leafs some cap flexibility, but the situation has now taken a problematic turn.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off of another disappointing loss, this time a 4-2 defeat against their rivals, the Ottawa Senators.

Despite acquiring both Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo at the trade deadline, the Maple Leafs have struggled, posting a 1-4 record since their arrivals.

One player most impacted by these acquisitions is Ryan Reaves, who was waived on Thursday, March 6th, just prior to the deadline for cap relief, and cleared waivers the following day.

According to Mark Masters on X, Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden, Reaves has not reported to the American Hockey League since clearing waivers and being sent down.

'We'll see what happens with that ... It's a tough adjustment for anyone. At the end of the day, we just want what's best for him. '

At 38 years old, Reaves has not had any contact with the Marlies since being sent down, which is concerning given his reputation for maintaining a positive attitude and being a strong locker room presence.

Reaves, known for his enforcer role and physical play, has barely shown that side of his game this season. With 0 goals and 2 assists in 35 games, his $1.35 million AAV wasn't based on offensive production but rather his physicality, something he has not demonstrated enough of this season. This lack of physicality likely contributed to his demotion.

In an unfortunate turn of events, one of the players Reaves was sent down in order to acquire, Scott Laughton, was forced to leave the Senators game due to a scary eye injury, and Reaves may be called up to replace him.

However, if Reaves hasn't reported to the AHL, there may be a strained relationship now between he and the team, so there's no telling what might happen next.

This article first appeared on Maple Leafs Daily and was syndicated with permission.

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