Toronto Maple Leafs Would Be Silly Not to Sign Zach Aston-Reese

The Toronto Maple Leafs were lucky that a strong, cheap, defensively excellent player fell into their lap, now all they have to do is sign him.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were already most likely the deepest team in the NHL when they offered a PTO to Zach Aston-Reese. 

The thing is, however, that depth is relative.

If you, say, begin training camp with about ten injuries to players you were expecting to have available to you, as has been the case for the Leafs this season so far, you probably aren’t satisfied.

The Leafs were always going to sign Aston-Reese, but now it’s a slam dunk, no-brainer, guarantee that they do.

They would be dumb to pass on such a player.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Zach Aston-Reese

The only reason Aston-Reese is on a PTO and doesn’t already have a contract is that the NHL doesn’t pay defensive players very well, and last year he was making $1.75 million dollars, which meant that his automatic raise would likely put him over $2 million.

What team wants to give that much money to a player who has never played 60 games or hit 20 points?  He’d probably be worth it, but relative to how NHL players earn money, a team could reasonably get what he offers for cheaper.

But on a PTO, the Leafs do not have to give him a qualifying offer. If he makes the team, they can give him a league minimum contract.

Having Zach Aston Reese on a league minimum contract is awesome value, and there is no way the Leafs pass that up, even if it means another non-waiver eligible player on the roster.

The Leafs will only pass on ZAR if they value other players they might well lose more than they value him.

Clifford, Malgin, Anderson, Simmonds and Mete would all need to clear waivers if they don’t make the Leafs.   ZAR, who was passed over for a contract by the entire league, might actually be more likely to clear waivers, so maybe he is signed, then exposed.

But I doubt it.  I think the Leafs will be satisfied to waive any of those guys if they don’t make the roster.

I also think it would be extremely foolish to have the good fortune to have a player like this fall to you, and then just let him go.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, if they sign Zach Aston Reese, will also have Pierre Engvall, David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, Alex Kerfoot, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.  That means half of their twelve forwards on any given night feature players who are among the best defensive forwards in the NHL.

P.S my apologies if, after writing this, and scheduling it for this morning, the Leafs signed Aston-Reese (or cut him) while I was sleeping.