Aston-Reese turns PTO into 1-year deal with Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year contract worth approximately $840,000, the team announced Sunday.

Aston-Reese joined Toronto's camp on a professional tryout last month. The defensive-minded winger projects to be a bottom-six contributor this season.

Zach Aston-Reese, signed 1x$0.8M by TOR, is a low-event physical fourth liner with a track record of superb defensive results. When he's out there, the puck spends a lot of time stuck around the boards and out of the hands of his opponents. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/BFTUs6UFQD

- JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 9, 2022

Rosters across the league will be set Monday, with the regular season kicking off in earnest Tuesday.

Toronto's opening-night lineup is beginning to take shape, as the club waived forwards Wayne Simmonds, Adam Gaudette, and Kyle Clifford, as well as defenseman Victor Mete on Sunday before finalizing Aston-Reese's deal.

Aston-Reese split last season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks. He's notched 66 points in 230 career games.

The Maple Leafs begin their 2022-23 campaign Oct. 12 against the Montreal Canadiens.

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