Maple Leafs Rumors: Team Looking To "Add Some Beef" To Bottom-6

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to look quite different than they did at the end of last season, especially in the bottom-six as there are a number of players likely moving on in free agency. With that, they should also be testing the free agent market and getting a different type of player.

Elliotte Friedman said that "I think they're (Maple Leafs) going to add some beef down the lineup. I wouldn't be surprised...and I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be these guys...but I wonder about an Austin Watson or I wonder about a Ryan Reaves. That's what a couple of people have said to me. They think the Leafs are going to try to make their bottom-six a little heavier."

Friedman also noted that Brad Treliving likes Reaves and tried to sign him a couple of years back when he was extended by the Vegas Golden Knights. Reaves had a solid impact on the Minnesota Wild once he was traded to them near the beginning of the 2022-23 season. The 36-year-old won't score a ton, but he will contribute to the offense from the fourth line like he did in Minnesota and provide a ton of physicality and toughness.

Watson is a bit more of a goal-scorer than Reaves, but is also large, very physical, and tough. He could be counted on for a little more ice time per game and to log lots of time on the penalty kill at a high level. We saw Toronto try to get a bit bigger last season and it seems like a trend in the right direction for them.