From the very beginning of the offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to Zach Aston-Reese as a potential bottom-six addition. They’ll get a chance to see him up close now, as he has been signed to a professional tryout and invited to training camp.
Aston-Reese, 28, was also being chased by the Edmonton Oilers, according to Mark Spector of Sportsnet, though this doesn’t necessarily take them out of the running. Like with any other tryout, Aston-Reese is still free to sign a contract with any team in the league but will get the chance to showcase himself in preseason action with the Maple Leafs.
For a team that has been criticized for its physicality and willingness to go to the “dirty” areas of the ice, the former Pittsburgh Penguin may be a good fit. Aston-Reese has racked up 655 hits in his 230-game NHL career, including a whopping 231 last season in just 69 games. Those were split between Pittsburgh and the Anaheim Ducks, where he was traded at the deadline as part of the Rickard Rakell deal.
While he hasn’t brought much of the scoring touch that saw him dominate the college scene at Northeastern and earn him an NHL contract, Aston-Reese is well-liked by the analytical community for his elite (and sometimes surprising) defensive metrics even in a limited role.
In fact, it is somewhat of a surprise that he wasn’t able to find a team that would offer him a regular contract, though perhaps he is looking for a certain situation or destination. For Toronto, who appear to be reconfiguring their bottom-six, a player like Aston-Reese might make a lot of sense.
does it make a lot of sense? Toronto’s issue isn’t necessarily roughness on the bottom 3 or 6. It’s a lack of physical and mental toughness on the top 6
Really would have liked Devils to sign him. Outside of RW Bastian (and returning from injury, LW Wood) they really lack grit (bottom of the league in hits) and those willing to go to the “dirty” areas. They could also use some Defensive play at Forward. Plus he is a “local (Staten Island) guy”.
Hell, I wouldn’t mind seeing him in Boston once more, just a hop skip and jump from Huntington Ave. I’d trust him a lot more than I would Foligno, that’s for sure.
Ok so he waits to see if a team that can offer him more offensive responsibility will sign him. Then he signs a pto with the leafs, were if he does signs, will be stuck on that 4th line at best..head scratcher
PTO4ZAR
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