Reaves motivated to face Leafs: ‘They basically said that I couldn’t play in this league anymore’
San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Reaves said Thursday he holds no grudges against the Toronto Maple Leafs,but would have appreciated a “little honesty and some communication” after losing his role with the team last season.
The Maple Leafs traded Reaves to the San Jose Sharks in July, ending a long saga of uncertainty for the veteran winger. The 38-year-old was placed on waivers by Toronto after the trade deadline and was then assigned to the AHL for the remainder of the season.
“I think throughout the year, not just that situation, I think there’s just some situations that could have been handled differently,” Reaves said. “I’ve been in the league for 15 years and I think just a little honesty and some communication would have been nice, but every team handles things differently and. It is what it is. I ended up in a in a great organization in San Jose and I’m having a great time playing there. So, it was just a stepping stone to get here.”
Signed through this at a cap hit of $1.35 million, Reaves has two goals in 25 games with the Sharks this season. He’s averaging 7:36 of ice time per game, just less than the 7:48 he averaged while posting two assists in 35 games last season.
While finding the positives in his exit from Toronto, Reaves also acknowledged he’s motivated going into Thursday’s game against the Maple Leafs.
“Absolutely,” Reaves added when asked if he has a chip on his shoulder as the two teams meet Thursday night. “They basically said that I couldn’t play in this league anymore. And I’m back.”
Ryan Reaves says he holds no grudges against the #leafs, but would have appreciated a little more “honesty and communication” while in limbo last season:
“They basically said that I couldn’t play in this league anymore. And I’m back.”
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 11, 2025
In a strange twist of fate, defenceman Henry Thrun, who Toronto received from San Jose in the Reaves trade, is expected to make his Maple Leafs debut Thursday night.
