Maple Leafs Make Surprising Announcement Regarding Veteran Enforcer Ryan Reaves

Ahead of the trade deadline, Ryan Reaves was placed on waivers in a cap-saving move, allowing the Leafs to acquire both Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo.

Reaves did not take the news well, failing to report to the Marlies until a few weeks later.

At the time of the move, GM Brad Treliving explained that the Leafs would bring Reaves back as soon as possible, but thanks to late-season injuries and rules surrounding LTIR, they were unable to do so until the roster and salary cap constraints ended.

Ahead of their optional skate on Friday, Reaves was finally recalled by the club. While it's unlikely Reaves returns to the lineup for Game 1, Reaves' energy and passion for his teammates will provide a huge boost off the ice.

The 38-year-old skated in just 35 games for the Leafs this season, tallying two assists and one fight before being sent down to the Marlies, where he has played in 3 games and scored once.

Whether Reaves' NHL career is over after this season at this point remains to be seen, but if it is, it shouldn't be a surprise to see the Leafs keep him around in a player development role, similar to the way they did with Jake Muzzin.