The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Ryan Reaves and could look to add an enforcer to replace him.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Ross Johnston in a one-for-one swap with the Anaheim Ducks.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Ducks acquire:
The proposed deal is a one-for-one swap and makes sense for both teams. The Maple Leafs would acquire an enforcer who could also be sent down to the AHL and have his salary buried, while saving some cap space. Anaheim, meanwhile, would get a useful fourth-line center who can kill some penalties.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Johnston, who’s an enforcer and isn’t afraid to fight. Johnston has one year left on his four-year, $4.4 million deal. The 31-year-old skated in 43 games, recording 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points last season with the Ducks. The trade would also be about getting out of Kampf’s deal for the Maple Leafs.
In return, the Maple Leafs would trade Kampf, who has two years left on his four-year, $9.6 million deal. Kampf was a healthy scratch at times during the playoffs and regular season, which makes him expendable. With the Ducks, he’d be a perfect fourth-line center as he’s good defensively. He recorded 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points in 59 games.
Reaves Requested Trade From Maple Leafs
Reaves was placed on waivers and spent most of last season in the AHL.
After the season ended, Reaves revealed he requested a trade, and he ended up being dealt to the San Jose Sharks.
“I just thought that this wasn’t obviously a good fit. I’m assuming he probably thought the same after putting me on waivers and sending me to the minors. Just thought it was kind of time to part ways,” Reaves said in his media availability on July 11.
Reaves believes that no matter what he did when he did play, it seemed like the coaches were already set to scratch him the next game.
“I think there was just a lack of trust very early in the season,” Reaves said. “It just kind of looked like if I had one bad game, I was out of the lineup for four, five, six, seven, eight, nine games. I’d come back in, have a good game, but then be taken right back out. I just really couldn’t ever gain any momentum with my game or gain any traction. And that’s hard, it’s hard to play like that. So, yeah, I just didn’t see a fit for me in the lineup, and it is what it is. That’s also part of the business.”
Reaves is entering the final year of his three-year, $4.05 million deal.
Maple Leafs Looking to Trade Kampf
After Kampf was scratched throughout the playoffs, the Maple Leafs are looking to trade him.
Toronto could also save some cap space by trading him, and NHL insider Nick Alberga says that is the plan.
“The Leafs remain active in trying to find new homes for David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok. With free agency set to kick off tomorrow, I’m told there’s not much doing on either front right now. The market has been thin,” Alberga wrote.
Kampf played in just 1 playoff game.
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