‘They basically said I couldn’t play anymore. And I’m back’: Sharks’ Ryan Reaves on facing Leafs
Veteran tough guy Ryan Reaves has always made for a good interview, including during his two-year stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs that ended last season. Now that Reaves is back in Toronto as a member of the San Jose Sharks to face his old team on Thursday, he’s proving to be as candid as ever.
When talking to the media Thursday, Reaves spoke honestly about the end of his time with the Leafs.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Reaves said when asked if he has a chip on his shoulder coming into Thursday’s game. “They basically said I couldn’t play in this league anymore. And I’m back.”
Reaves’ exit from Toronto was far from graceful. The Winnipeg native played 35 games for the Leafs last season while being a frequent healthy scratch. He was placed on waivers just before the trade deadline, and after clearing was assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, where he would play three games to finish up the season. He was eventually traded to the Sharks last offseason for defenseman Henry Thrun.
The 38-year-old addressed his awkward goodbye from the Leafs’ organization.
“Not just that situation,” Reaves said. “I think there’s just some situations that could’ve been handled differently. At the time, I’d been in the league for 15 years. I think just a little honesty and some communication would’ve been nice. But like I said, every team handles things differently. It is what it is. I ended up in a great organization in San Jose. I’m having a great time playing here. So I guess it was just a stepping stone to get here.”
"They basically said I couldn't play in this league anymore. And I'm back." Ryan Reaves returns to Toronto on Thursday night for the first time since being traded by the Leafs… We gonna see a Reavo scrap? 👀
Reaves has definitely taken on a more consistent role with the Sharks than he had with the Leafs. He’s played 25 of San Jose’s 31 games so far this season, and has two goals while averaging just over seven and half minutes of ice time. The 16-year veteran will be motivated to make his presence felt on Thursday.