Ryan Reaves to sign multi-year deal with the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to add some grit to their forward group, and it sounds like they will be doing so for the foreseeable future.

Multiple reports over the last several hours have been pointing to the fact that veteran National Hockey League enforcer Ryan Reaves is expected to sign a new deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but now we have more details regarding the nature of his new deal and how it came about.

According to the latest from National Hockey League insider Darren Dreger, it would appear that the Minnesota Wild did attempt to retain Reaves but were only prepared to offer him 2 years of term. The Maple Leafs on the other hand offered Reaves an additional third year on his next contract, and it would appear that this is what pushed the deal over the finish line for the Leafs.

Dreger also reports that this new deal is expected to carry an average annual value and salary cap hit of $1.3 million per season, earning Reaves considerably more than the league minimum each season. Reaves' role on the team will be no mystery, with the veteran enforcer no doubt being brought in to protect the organization's top stars.