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Former Maple Leaf Says Players Are 'Afraid to Talk' in Toronto Market

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 7:30 AM ET

Now with the San Jose Sharks , Ryan Reaves has been candid about his experience playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Reaves appeared on the "Leafs Morning Take" podcast on Monday and discussed many topics, including the pressure that comes with playing in the NHL’s most scrutinized market.

“Toronto is a hockey mecca of the world, and you’re going to have both sides of it,” Reaves said. “You’re going to have people that love you for playing for the team… And then, you’re gonna have the Twitter heroes that are sitting in their mom’s basement chirping every single move and every single word that you say.”

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Reaves said the constant attention in Toronto isn’t for everyone, and it changes how players express themselves.

“People are going to have their opinions,” Reaves said. “And everybody’s just afraid to talk however they want to talk.”

After being sent to the AHL during last regular season, Reaves knew the end of his tenure in Toronto was coming and was ultimately traded to the Sharks on July 10.

Reaves acknowledged having seen “the writing on the wall” after losing his role in the NHL squad, which led him to have a frank conversation with Leafs general manager Brad Treliving about moving on and split ways.

Despite the breakup, Reaves said Toronto was “probably the best organization in terms of how they treat the players, how they run the team."

Reaves also contrasted Toronto to other towns he's played at, such as Vegas, saying Sin City is "a little more toned down than Toronto," regarding "the fans and how much pressure there is there."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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