Maple Leafs sign depth forward to a professional tryout contract

When he became an unrestricted free agent in July, no one could have predicted that Zach Aston-Reese would have gone this long without signing a contract.

Granted, he isn't a top-six forward, but he is pretty reliable in a third-line role and you can never have enough depth when you're an NHL franchise going through a long, grueling 82-game push towards the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they've signed Aston-Reese to a professional tryout contract and will join the team for training camp in a couple of weeks.

Aston-Reese, a native of Staten Island (New York), signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins out of college in 2017. He went on to play parts of five seasons with the Pens before being dealt to Anaheim in March of this year.

In 69 games last season between Pittsburgh and Anaheim, Aston-Reese put up fifteen points (five goals, ten assists), 28 penalty minutes and was a plus-nine.

We have signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a professional tryout (PTO) contract. pic.twitter.com/5CO81MNKOH— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 9, 2022

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