The Maple Leafs are in the process of signing Zach Aston-Reese to an NHL contract.
This contract could well be made to just fit in the available cap space, if not now, once the team is fully healthy, and that would explain the odd AAV and the timing.
Aston-Reese has been on a PTO with the Leafs and played in three preseason games, largely in a depth role, often paired with new Maple Leaf Nicolas Aubé-Kubel and last year’s surprise find, David Kämpf. It is expected that that line may stay intact as the season progresses.