Sharks' Ryan Reaves Breaks Silence After Maple Leafs Exit

Toronto signed Reaves to a three-year, $4.05 million contract in 2023, hoping the veteran winger would bring size, grit, and leadership to the team.

After a knee injury and a rocky start to the 2024–25 season, Reaves became a regular scratch and was sent to the AHL in March. At the end of the campaign, Reaves had posted just two assists over 35 regular-season games with the Leafs.

“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.”

Now with the rebuilding Sharks, the 38-year-old said the change will give him a shot at getting more playing time as he aims to reach the 1,000-game milestone, being just 88 games shy of it.

“I still want to play,” Reaves said. “I would love to be able to hold on for another two years and hit that (milestone), then ride into the sunset.”

Reaves also clarified his recent criticism of Toronto fans, and despite acknowledging the city's intense pressure on the franchise and its players, he called Toronto “a first-class organization.”