Ryan Reaves placed on waivers as Leafs prepare for NHL trade deadline
The Maple Leafs began some pre-trade deadline housekeeping on Thursday, with Ryan Reaves being placed on waivers as several teams began dangling spare-part players on the wire.
Reaves, who is signed through next season at $1.35 million US, represents a $1.15 million cap saving if he clears at 2 p.m. Friday (an hour before the deadline) and is assigned to the Toronto Marlies.
The 38-year-old tough guy has played in 35 games this year with no goals, two assists and 28 penalty minutes, with long stretches sitting in the press box.
He joined the Leafs last season to replace Wayne Simmonds as the team policeman and made it into 54 games, including five in the playoffs. But Toronto moved more towards toughness by committee under new coach Craig Berube and Reaves found few takers when he did want to fight.
Alex Steeves and the returning Connor Dewar were two players who demonstrated in recent games the Leafs could get by without Reaves, especially when fighting is curtailed in playoffs.
Simmonds, who had never played in the minors, did not report to the Marlies in a similar situation, which the Leafs let slide as he retired.
Around the NHL on Thursday, centre Tyler Pitlick of the Bruins and defenceman Riley Stillman of Carolina joined Reaves on the wire, with minor-league goalie Evan Cormier of Florida and Utah Hockey Club farmhand forward Cameron Hevig.
Also on Thursday, former Edmonton first-round pick forward Jesse Puljujarvi cleared waivers after the Florida Panthers claimed him from Pittsburgh and signed him to a two-way contract.
Three claims were made Thursday, with Nashville picking up left winger Jakub Vrana from Washington and veteran defenceman Jordan Oesterle from Boston, and Columbus scooping winger Christian Fischer off Detroit — a team the Jackets are battling for a wild-card playoff spot.
lhornby@postmedia.com
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