Ryan Reaves announced his abrupt retirement on his personal Instagram on Wednesday evening, leaving the long-time enforcer only 38 games shy of the 1,000 mark.
In a lengthy and descriptive post on his personal Instagram, Reaves took the time to thank everyone who made his career possible, what it's meant for him over the last 16 years, and that he was going to be stepping away from the game he loved so much:
Dear Hockey, it's hard to put into words what you meant to me. What you mean to me....it's hard to make this league. It's even harder to stay in it. For everything I put into my 16 years, the game gave me back x1,000.
But unfortunately, Father Time remains undefeated. Every hit, every fight-it's taken its final toll on me...Today, I retire from the sport I've loved since I was 5 years old.
It was a hell of a ride. Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this journey. There are too many to single out, so you'll hear from me at some point.
'Reavo' steps away from the NHL after 15+ years of punches
Reaves finishes his career with 962 games played spread throughout seven team (St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Vegas, New York [Rangers], Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs) while adding 66 goals, 140 points and an incredible 1,137 PIM.
Known mainly as a player who does his talking with his physicality, Reaves was always found to be scrapping or ready to drop the gloves at a moment's notice. Not really an offensive player whatsoever, he did manage a nine-goal, 20-point season with Vegas in 2018-19, career-highs he never broke.
He was also known as someone who played a little bit greasier than normal, and utilize every aspect of his physicality, which led to him being suspended three times over the course of his career.
Remembering Ryan Reaves' time with the Maple Leafs
Reaves came in during the 2023 offseason and while he was meant to bring some extra physicality and toughness as part of the 'grit and grind' mentality that Brad Treliving loved, his production was anything but - especially at the price they were paying.
Reaves signed a three-year, $4.05M deal which even at the time raised a lot of eyebrows, but given his performance it led to a lot of criticism. Reaves had eight points in 84 games, and really never managed to fight while here. He also got backlash for taking Mitch Marner's side when the latter headed to Vegas last summer.
Though he was a strong locker room presence and someone that brought some levity to the clubhouse, the on-ice performance and results combined with his price led Toronto to trade him to the Sharks where he finished his career - a chapter in his life that is definitively closed.
Do you think a team should have signed Ryan Reaves so he could get 1,000 games?
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