Aston-Reese signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 13, 2025. He was claimed off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 7, 2024, and had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 42 games at the time of the deal. He previously played for the Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

The undrafted forward's professional career began when he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 14, 2017, after being named Hockey East Player of the Year and a Hobey Baker Award finalist following his senior season at Northeastern University, when he had 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists) in 38 games.

The Penguins sent him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, where he had eight points (three goals, five assists) in 10 games. He began the 2017-18 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton but was called up by the Penguins after the All-Star break and made his NHL debut Feb. 3, 2018, against the New Jersey Devils.

Aston-Reese scored his first two NHL goals Feb. 13, 2018, against the Ottawa Senators. He missed 13 games with an undisclosed injury but finished the regular season with the Penguins, ending with six points (four goals, two assists) in 16 games. Aston-Reese had one assist in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games before a broken jaw and a concussion in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Washington Capitals ended his season.