Ryan Reaves is glad the Toronto Maple Leafs traded him this offseason.
Reaves signed a three-year, $4.05 million deal with the Maple Leafs in 2023. He was brought in to be a leader in the locker room and add some size and physicality to the lineup. Reaves played an effective role in his first year, but last season, he was a scratch and was ultimately sent down to the AHL.
After spending most of last season in the AHL, Reaves said he spoke to Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving after the year and told him he wanted to be traded. He ended up being traded to the San Jose Sharks on July 10.
“I just thought that this wasn’t obviously a good fit. I’m assuming he probably thought the same after putting me on waivers and sending me to the minors. Just thought it was kind of time to part ways,” Reaves said in his media availability on July 11.
Reaves ended up being dealt, which he was happy about, as playing in San Jose will give him a chance to reach 1000 games.
Reaves is 83 games away from 1000 career NHL games, which he said earlier this offseason was a goal.
“I still want to play,” Reaves said on The Cam & Strick Podcast. “I’m 83 games from 1000 right now, so I would love to be able to hold on for another two years and hit that, then ride into the sunset. I don’t think I can make it past two more years, but I would love to get that.”
Reaves skated in 35 games, recording 0 goals and 2 assists last season with the Maple Leafs.
Reaves Frustrated With Role With Maple Leafs
Although Reaves is a fourth-liner, he was frustrated with his role in Toronto.
The enforcer felt like Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube had never given him a chance to find his footing.
“I think there was just a lack of trust very early in the season,” Reaves said. “It just kind of looked like if I had one bad game, I was out of the lineup for four, five, six, seven, eight, nine games. I’d come back in, have a good game, but then be taken right back out. I just really couldn’t ever gain any momentum with my game or gain any traction. And that’s hard, it’s hard to play like that. So, yeah, I just didn’t see a fit for me in the lineup, and it is what it is. That’s also part of the business.”
Reaves ended up spending most of the year in the AHL, which was difficult for the veteran. In his NHL career, he’s skated in 912 games, recording 63 goals and 74 assists for 137 points, along with 1100 PIMs.
What Did the Maple Leafs Get for Reaves?
Toronto traded Reaves to the Sharks in a one-for-one deal.
The Maple Leafs acquired 24-year-old defenseman Henry Thrun from San Jose. Thrun was selected in the fourth round in 2019.
Thurn is likely to be a sixth or seventh defenseman for the Maple Leafs, but could also be sent down to the AHL. He skated in 60 games, recording 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points.
Thurn is entering the final year of his two-year, $2 million deal.
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