Sharks’ Ryan Reaves Breaks Silence After Maple Leafs Exit
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Reaves vs. Kane: Ryan Reaves rips Evander Kane as NHL’s most overhyped enforcer in ongoing feud
The rivalry between Ryan Reaves and Evander Kane is one of the most intense personal feuds in recent NHL history. Known for their physical playing styles and outspoken personalities, the two enforcers have clashed both verbally and physically since their early days. Reaves described the conflict as “real” and said he doesn’t expect it to ever change. The two finally dropped the gloves in a heavyweight clash that saw Reaves gain the upper hand. That moment solidified their rivalry and thrilled fans who had waited to see the tension boil over.
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Inside the Ryan Reaves vs. Evander Kane rivalry
This bitter feud began during the fierce battles between the San Jose Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights. At the time, Kane played for San Jose, while Reaves wore the black and gold of Vegas. Both players were known as enforcers—Reaves with his punishing hits and unmatched toughness, and Kane with his power-forward play and fiery edge. What started as physical play quickly evolved into personal animosity.
On a recent episode of the Cam and Strick podcast, Reaves reignited the drama by making bold statements about Kane.
He described the conflict as “real” and said he doesn’t expect it to ever change. According to Reaves, Kane made false claims about challenging him to fights—allegations Reaves strongly denied. “He chirps too much,” Reaves said, accusing Kane of talking a big game but backing down unless referees were near.
Their most memorable on-ice battle took place during Game 3 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs’ first-round matchup.
The two finally dropped the gloves in a heavyweight clash that saw Reaves gain the upper hand. That moment solidified their rivalry and thrilled fans who had waited to see the tension boil over.
Statistically, Reaves holds the edge when it comes to fighting. According to HockeyFights.com, he has been involved in 79 NHL fights, with significant time spent enforcing for teams like the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Kane, on the other hand, has dropped the gloves 29 times, with early career fights for the Atlanta Thrashers and later stints with the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers.
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As the NHL continues to evolve, personal rivalries like that of Reaves and Kane remain captivating. Fans are drawn to the raw intensity, and with both players still active, the next chapter of their conflict could unfold at any moment.
Sharks’ Ryan Reaves Breaks Silence After Maple Leafs Exit
Sharks’ Ryan Reaves Breaks Silence After Maple Leafs Exit. Reaves spoke for the first time since his overnight trade to the San Jose 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. He 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.’“I just thought that this wasn’t obviously a good fit,” Reaves said Friday.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves spoke for the first time since his overnight trade to the San Jose Sharks and revealed how the Leafs arrived at the final decision to move the veteran enforcer.
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According to Reaves, Toronto’s front office didn’t initiate the move. It was actually Reaves who put the wheels in motion and pushed for a split after a season he described as frustrating and a bad fit for him.
“I just thought that this wasn’t obviously a good fit,” Reaves said Friday. “I’m assuming [Leafs general manager Brad Treliving] probably thought the same after putting me on waivers and sending me to the minors.
“Just thought it was kind of time to part ways.”
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.
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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.”
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Ryan Reaves (75) warms up before playing an NHL game.Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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.
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“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.”
Related: Ryan Reaves Calls Out ‘Ruthless’ Maple Leafs Fans After Mitch Marner’s Exit
Related: Erik Karlsson-Maple Leafs Link ‘More Than Just Hearsay,’ Claims NHL Insider
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Alex Ovechkin age- Discover Alex Ovechkin’s Height, Weight, and other Physical Attributes
Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger with the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League (NHL) as of 2024. He is known as one of the greatest players in the NHL due to his achievements, second only to Wayne Gretzky in goal scoring. He started his professional hockey career in his native Moscow, Russia with the Dynamo Moscow Russia in 2001, when he was just 16 years old. He played four seasons with Dynamo Moscow before entering the NHL and scored four points in his rookie season in 21 games. He debuted in the 2005-2006 season and was named the Rookie of the Year, earning him the Calder Memorial Trophy. He scored an impressive 65 goals in 2007-2008 that earned him the Art Ross Trophy for most points.
Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger with the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League (NHL) as of 2024. Ovechkin is often called “the Great Eight” due to his jersey number “8”. He is known as one of the greatest players in the NHL due to his achievements, second only to Wayne Gretzky in goal scoring. He started his professional hockey career in his native Moscow, Russia with the Dynamo Moscow Russia in 2001, when he was just 16 years old. He played four seasons with Dynamo Moscow before entering the NHL and scored four points in his rookie season in 21 games with Dynamo Moscow.
He was a highly appreciated prospect to be selected by the Washington Capitals as the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry draft. He debuted in the 2005-2006 season, Ovechkin scored 52 goals and 54 assists and was named the Rookie of the Year, earning him the Calder Memorial Trophy. He finished third in the entire league in scoring. He also secured the Maurice Rocket Richard Award nine times for the league’s top scorer. He scored an impressive 65 goals in 2007-2008 that earned him the Art Ross Trophy for most points. Ovechkin has a record of scoring 40-plus goals in thirteen seasons and also shares the record of 50-goal campaigns with hockey legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy. He has achieved many milestones in his NHL career and continues to do so.
Alex Ovechkin Age
As of December 2024, Alex Ovechkin is 39 years old. He was born on September 17, 1985. He comes from an athletic family. His mom Tatyana was a two-time gold medalist. His father played soccer during his time. Tatyana is a two-time gold medalist in basketball in 1976 and 1980 and world championship in 1975. Alex has two brothers Sergei and Mikhail.
Alex Ovechkin’s Other Physical Attributes
Alex Ovechkin was born on August 7, 1987, making him 39 years old. He was born in Moscow, Russia. Ovechkin weighs 235 pounds (107 kilograms) and stands 6 feet 3 inches (180 centimeters) tall.
Full Name Alex Ovechkin Birth date August 7, 1987 (age 39) Age 39 Birth Place Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Weight 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb) Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) Shooting Right
Alex Ovechkin Height
Alex Ovechkin stands at 6 feet 3 inches (191 centimeters).
Alex Ovechkin Weight
Alex Ovechkin’s weight is 107 kg, approximately 235 pounds.
NHL News: Maple Leafs trade former Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews teammate to Macklin Celebrini’s Sharks
Ryan Reaves, a 15-year NHL veteran, was traded to the San Jose Sharks. The 24-year-old spent just two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Reaves was attending a Vegas Golden Knights meet-and-greet when he heard the news. He said he’ll miss sharing the ice with fellow veteran Mitch Marner, who was also traded to San Jose. The Sharks also signed goaltender Jakub Skarek as a free agent.
The player in question is Ryan Reaves, a 15-year NHL veteran, who was traded to the Sharks after spending just two seasons in Toronto. Reaves appeared in only 35 games during the most recent 2024–25 campaign, contributing 2 assists.
It was a busy day of roster moves for the Sharks, who not only acquired Reaves in a trade but also signed goaltender Jakub Skarek as a free agent, giving the 24-year-old a chance to make the NHL roster next season.
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Reaves finds out mid-event
Reaves wasn’t at home—or even in Toronto—when he heard the news. He was attending a Vegas Golden Knights meet-and-greet when word of the trade broke. “They may start hating me soon because I just got traded to the Sharks,” Reaves said jokingly, before adding that he’ll miss sharing the ice with Marner.
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“Golden misfit Ryan Reaves was traded from Toronto to San Jose while at a VGK fan meet-and-greet. On the Mitch Marner trade, he says Vegas will ‘love him. I’m jealous I’m not playing with him anymore,’” reported Nick Walters for KTNV.
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What can Reaves bring to the Sharks?
At this stage in his career, Reaves isn’t expected to play a full 70-plus game schedule like he did in his younger days. But with over a decade of NHL experience, he can still provide physicality and veteran leadership—qualities the Sharks could use after a rough season that saw them give up 310 goals.
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List of Arizona Coyotes draft picks
The Arizona Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The team was founded in 1972 as the Winnipeg Jets. In 1996, the team moved to Phoenix and became the Arizona Coyotes. In 2014, the Coyotes moved back to Arizona and are now the newest team in the NHL. The Coyotes are currently in their third season in the league. They are hoping to return to the NHL in 2015-16.
The Arizona Coyotes were a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area who competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Central Division in the Western Conference. Looking back, they were originally founded as the Winnipeg Jets in 1972 before joining the NHL in 1979. However, the team struggled financially which led to their relocation to Phoenix in 1996, where they became the Phoenix Coyotes. Nonetheless, ownership issues still persisted which led to another relocation amid many off-field issues. This relocation came in the form of shifting the team to Arizona and later starting a new iteration as the Arizona Coyotes in 2014. Despite garnering a passionate fanbase and notable players, the team struggled with financial stability and arena issues, which ultimately resulted in their deactivation as a team and all their players and staff were moved to Salt Lake City in the form of the Utah Hockey Club, the newest NHL expansion team. The Coyotes might return to the NHL if they can build a new arena in Arizona by 2029.
Arizona Coyotes Draft Picks Year By Year
One of Arizona Coyotes’ most famous draft picks is Blake Wheeler who was selected fifth overall in the 2004 NHL Draft. This pick shocked many because Wheeler was ranked much lower on scouting lists. Although Wheeler never played for the Coyotes due to management issues and organizational turmoil, he went on to have a successful career with other teams. Wheeler’s career highlights include becoming the captain of the Winnipeg Jets and contributing the most points by any Coyotes draft pick. Another key draft pick of the Coyotes was Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was chosen sixth overall in the 2009 NHL Draft and quickly became the cornerstone of the team. Presently, he holds several franchise records for a defenseman, including goals, assists, and points. Keith Yandle, a fourth-round pick in 2005, also stands out as one of the best draft picks of the Coyotes.
The following table looks at Arizona Coyotes’ draft picks over the years: