Training Camp (9/19): Ryan Reaves

Training Camp (9/19): Ryan Reaves

You played against the Sharks a lot. The identity of that team is, you know, you played against them last couple years, but I don’t know if you played with Ryan Rosski as the head coach against them. What what’s it like? I mean, that was a big talk of the town last year is how hard his skates are. What are your first impressions of the team and and Ryan Rosski? Uh my booty is a little sore today. It was a it’s a tough skate. Uh but, you know, the message was very clear uh starting today was this is going to be a competitive team and we’re going to work and we’re going to compete teams. And um I think you saw it in practice today. There was a lot of competitive drills, one-on- ones, twoon-s, small area games. Um you know, things that are going to get us ready for the season. Um you mentioned just the collective unit wanting to take a step forward and that’s kind of been the theme of everybody. What’s the messaging been from the coaching staff uh not only to you but to to the rest of the guys? Uh you know that you know it’s time to take the next step. Um you know every team kind of goes through a rebuild. every team, you know, needs to kind of retool um, you know, salary cap, trades, whatever it is. Every franchise is going to go through that. And I think, uh, that part is gone and it’s it’s time to start taking the next step. And I know that was, you know, one of the messages you today, too. Uh, in your experience, is a room better with a captain or does it maybe not need necessarily somebody wearing a seat? if you have the right captain. Uh does this situation, there’s so many new faces here, some young guys, too, but maybe remind you of any place you’ve been in your career, just a team that’s kind of trying to take that next step. And I mean that first year in Vegas, maybe, but you know, any any does this team remind you of any team you kind of played on already? Uh well I guess when I went to New York um they had kind of been going through it a little bit too and uh but at the same time they had a lot of really good players. Um you know that year I got there we ended up going to the conference finals. So um you know anything can happen through a season. You know I think you mentioned you know the first year in Vegas. You know that team was made up of guys that teams just didn’t want uh teams didn’t want them and they let them go and uh you know we went to the finals. So, anything’s possible if you have the right chemistry, um, you know, the right pieces and and everybody really wants to go to war for each other on the ice and everybody loves each other off the ice. Um, you know, crazier things can happen. Your your impressions of Mel Brainy so far. I don’t think he gets enough respect, that’s for sure. Um, you know, I watched him play last year. Um, you know, he’s up there with with some of those guys. Uh, you know, if not better than some of those guys that, um, people put ahead of him. So, um, you know, he works he works hard. He plays the right way. He plays hard. Um, you can see it in the just in the, you know, five and five, four and four skates that we had before camp. So, um, you know, I expect him to have a a big year just like I’m sure he does. You feel part of your role is just to make sure he has, you know, some space out there to do what he does. Yes. Uh, have some space out there. Uh, have fun. Um, you know, if he needs somebody to talk to, you know, I’ve been through been through everything in this league. I’ve seen a lot. So, um, you know, just kind of, you know, for for anybody though, not just him, but you know, I hope to I hope guys feel comfortable coming to me with with anything they need. And, um, I think that’s part of the reason I’m here. Bar, we were just starting with Barkley and he was saying that maybe the maybe the room was a little quiet last year outside of Mario Ferraro maybe, but be that quiet this year. I’m just going to say is that, you know, you want to come in and try to liven things up a little bit. I’m definitely not a quiet person. So, yeah, it’s going to be a louder room this year for sure. What do you mean by a lack of respect for Mlin? I I think I think uh guys put, you know, maybe Baddard and and some of these other guys much further ahead of him and I I don’t see it that way at all. I didn’t see it that way last year and um you know, I think I think he’s a better player. When you look at you and what you talked about when we when we talked to you over the summer after you were traded here, just that motivation, how much fire does that give you? It’s a fresh start here. You know, maybe things ended poorly in Toronto. How much fire do you have inside of you to to prove that you can still play in the NHL? Yeah, I mean, I I wanted to do that last year and I think uh you know, the the fit wasn’t right. Um you know, maybe they just didn’t see the fit for me there and um you know, there was a lot of a lot of valleys, not a lot of peaks last year. So, um yeah, I’m I’m fired up. I want to I want to come here. I want to help. I want to prove I got another year or two left in me. Um you want to help, you know, change the the course of this franchise. um uh look forward to opportunity. Obviously, you know, getting traded, you don’t have too much decision where you’re going, but the Sharks traded for you. Do you feel like the fit here is maybe better suited for your style? Yeah, you know, I’ve I’ve never had a good year out east for some reason. Uh I’ve had okay, you know, parts of seasons, but my I’ve always liked being in the the West a lot more, so uh I’m glad I landed out here. Are you excited to play? You know, obviously the Sharks haven’t been what they were, but you’ve played against them in the playoffs. fans here at Gil Rowdy. What do you do? You think it’s it’s going to be fun kind of getting them on your side? This used to be one of the hardest buildings. I hope so because I I’m sure they don’t love me very much, but hopefully they do now. Um, couple more. And in comparison to some other teams you’ve been, how, you know, they’ve made a lot of upgrades on the facility, practice facility, just what do you think of it in comparison to some other places? Nice room in here. I mean, this is a a nice locker room, one of the nicer ones I’ve been to now. Uh, it’s a little bit of a maze. I’m try still trying to get used to it, but no, it’s uh it’s top of the line for sure. Yeah. And I imagine the road room SAP center wasn’t so great though right back in the day. Haven’t seen it so I don’t know. Yeah. But the new one maybe would be an improvement. Uh I haven’t seen any of it. Yeah. Um also too wanted to to ask you too and just in relation to you know making space for you know some of the young young kids. How you know how do you how are you going to do that? You know just being loud on the bench uh you know making sure that somebody goes after those guys that I’m going after them and and having conversations and you know sticking up for them when I need to. uh playing physical, you know, I think when I play physical, it opens up room for the everybody else. Um, you know, I think everybody’s kind of looking a little more over their shoulder and uh when those top guys get on the ice, you know, maybe maybe I’m out there uh not with them, but you know, maybe they think I am and uh it’ll open up some room for them. But I think just knowing the repercussions of going after our top guys, uh knowing that there are repercussions is, you know, part of the reason. How does a Mario compare to you in terms of volume? Uh just a just a notch under me, I think.

Sharks Forward Ryan Reaves answers questions from the media at training camp on September 19, 2025