For the first time since he was traded away to the San Jose Sharks during the offseason, Ryan Reaves made his return to Scotiabank Arena to face his former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates.
Reaves, who signed a three-year, $4.05 million contract with the Maple Leafs on the first day of free agency in July 2023, has already appeared in 25 games with the Sharks so far this season.
His prototypical role of an enforcer has been phased out of the NHL over the last several years, as a far greater emphasis has been placed on skill and speed rather than outright physicality.
A veteran of over 900 NHL contests with multiple teams coming into this season, Reaves is fully aware of the nature of the business that is professional sports, but he didn’t exactly like how his time with the Maple Leafs came to an end.
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Ryan Reaves says the Toronto Maple Leafs told him he couldn’t play at the NHL level any longer
Speaking with reporters at Scotiabank Arena earlier on Thursday morning, following practice, Reaves explained that he was told by Leafs management that they didn’t feel he could adequately perform at the NHL level any longer.
“They basically said that I couldn’t play in this league anymore,” Reaves said. “And I’m back.”
“It’s a business, and sometimes business doesn’t go the way you want it to. I think things could’ve been handled a little differently with me, just a little more upfront honesty,” Reaves continued.
However, Reaves made it clear that he doesn’t harbor any ill will toward the organization and that he enjoyed his time playing in one of the biggest hockey markets in the world.
“It’s another game. I played on seven teams. Almost every barn is like that,” Reaves said. “I mean, it’s always fun playing against your buddies, and you never want to lose against them, so they’re always a little more special for you. But I’ve done it many times.
“I enjoyed my time here. It was a great experience. The guys I met on this team will hopefully be friends forever, and I’ve met some really good people on this team and in the city.”
Reaves is part of a Sharks team that has several young, talented players on the roster, the most visible of whom is forward Macklin Celebrini, the first overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft.
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Ryan Reaves has played in over 900 games in his NHL career
Reaves, who has been known throughout his NHL career for the use of his fists and his physicality, first entered the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, who selected him in the fifth round (156th overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft.
Reaves would go on to play several years with the Blues before he was traded in 2017 to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a 2017 second-round draft pick (51st overall) for Oskar Sundqvist and the Penguins’ first-round pick (31st overall) in the 2017 draft.
Since then, Reaves has suited up for multiple teams, including the Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, and Minnesota Wild. He was also part of the Golden Knights’ squad that went to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final in their inagural season.
He played in a total of 84 games with the Maple Leafs, scoring four goals with four assists.
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