Media Availability: Ryan Reaves

Media Availability: Ryan Reaves

Hey, Ryan. Max Miller here from uh Sharks Hockey Digest and NHL.com. Welcome to the Sharks. Uh just what are what are your reactions? It was kind of a late night announcement. When did you find out? How did you feel about it? I found out uh 2 minutes before I was walking into a signing actually. Uh I was going to Top Golf to do a signing for a charity thing we do out here. Um but yeah, I’m I’m really excited. Obviously, um the way things ended in Toronto uh wasn’t exactly how I wanted. Um, so yeah, I think it it was time to move on and and uh you know, I’m happy that uh Tree out in Toronto. Um, you know, found a spot for me and and couldn’t be more happy to be in San Jose. Um, you know, I I actually just saw that video of you telling the the media there what that you found out. I mean, just in Vegas it looked like when it was going to happen, the history between the Sharks. Did you ever think you’d be wearing teal? What history? I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Um, no, definitely not. I think uh I think there was good that there was a little buffer in between um to let that cool off a little, but um no, there’s a there’s a few teams over the years that I would have said I probably never would have gone to just because of the rivalries that were going on. You know, Chicago when I played in St. Louis and then probably San Jose uh from our days in Vegas, but um you know, the little buffer in between the four or five years, uh definitely helped that. Um, you you mentioned kind of uh Bradley Living finding a spot for you. Was this something that maybe you talked about with him? Obviously, there was a lot of time in the AHL last year. Is just maybe kind of looking for a spot where you might get more NHL teams is something that you asked or discussed with the Maple Leafs for? Yeah, I just I told him at the end of the year um you know, I just thought that um you know, this wasn’t obviously a good fit. I I’m I’m assuming he probably thought the same after uh you know, putting me on waiverss and sending me to the minors. Um and just thought it was kind of time to part ways. So, um, you know, I think we both agreed that it was that time in my year in meeting and, um, you know, took a little bit of took a little bit of work obviously with the draft and everything going on. So, um, you know, glad it got done, uh, sooner than later. Um, obviously Sharks fans don’t have the fondest of memories of you. I don’t know why. What do you want to bring not only to the roster, but on the ice, the impact, right? like this is a chance to kind of get back in the NHL for you to kind of not necessarily be on the good side of the fans, but you know, get their, you know, appreciation for you and what you bring. Yeah. I mean, I I want to bring what I brought to Vegas uh when I played against you guys, you know, energy, physicality, sticking up for teammates, getting the energy going, uh any way I can, whether it’s a fight or whatever. Um you know, and off the ice, just being uh you know, being a veteran voice for it’s it’s a young team, obviously, a lot of young really good skill. Um, but you know, I I feel like every locker room needs um somebody a little bit older, somebody who’s been through, you know, playoffs and been through the grind for as long as I have. And, you know, I just want to help out those young guys anyway I can. And the last one for me, obviously, we know your role in the type of player you are. The Sharks have many young players. Do you feel like that this opportunity for you and you’ve got all these young kids around you and you know, almost Marty Msurley where you’re running around protect them. Is that something that kind of excites you when you see the future of this team as you come here now? Absolutely. I mean, they definitely didn’t sign me for my goal scoring. So, um I’m Yeah, I’m excited to, you know, run around, draw some energy for those guys, protect them when I have to. Um, you know, have some fun with them obviously and, uh, I think it’s going to be I think it’s going to be a great great opportunity for me. Awesome. Looking forward to meeting you here in San Jose. Yeah. Thanks, Shang. Hey, Revel Shang Pang, San Jose Hockey Now. Good to see you again. want to ask you, have you spoken with Mike Greer or andor Ryan Warsu about your role, what they kind of expect of you? Uh, you know, I I spoke very briefly with both of them. Obviously, a lot going on, a lot of moving parts. Um, so yeah, I’m I’m probably going to sit down with those guys when I get down to San Jose and uh talk a little bit more. Um, I I I don’t know if there’s a ton to talk about. Like I know my role and I know um you know what what I need to bring to that team, but obviously they’re going to have their thoughts, too. and uh very open to hearing them and um yeah I yeah so I spoke to both of them. In recent years you’ve been with more veteran teams so does this change a little bit joining a team like this and then having to kind of stand up for uh teenagers like Mlin Britney and Will Smith. Does that change things a little bit or is it just same role same same kind of deal? No, I mean it doesn’t matter doesn’t matter who you’re sticking up for. It doesn’t matter what age they are. if if you’re my teammate, I’m going to stick up for you whether you’re, you know, a 35year-old vet or you’re an 8-year-old kid. So, um I don’t think that really changes anything. Is that the kind of the the weirdest experience in terms of learning about a trade like right before you’re going to a signing and then you have Vegas fans asking you about the trade, too? Yeah, it it was a little weird timing, especially because I’m sure Vegas fans don’t love San Jose. Uh, so you know, having to break that to him was probably a little weird, but um, hey, that’s that’s the business. And you mentioned Toronto being difficult and challenging for you last year. You know, what are just some of the things that made it so tough for you last year there? You know, I I think there was just a lack of trust very early in the season. Um, it just kind of looked like um, you know, I had one bad game and I was out of the lineup for four, five, six, seven, eight, nine games. um you know, I’d come back in, have a good game, but you know, taken right back out. I just really couldn’t ever um you know, gain any momentum with my game. Couldn’t really gain any traction. And and that’s hard. It’s hard to play like that. It’s hard to play when you’re only playing every five, six games. So, um yeah, I just they didn’t see a fit for me in the lineup. And you know, it is what it is. That’s uh that’s also part of the business. And so just how excited are you for this kind of fresh start to rebuild the trust with the coaching staff here and and all that in San Jose? Yeah, I’m I’m I’m really excited. I um you know, I always say, you know, everybody’s asked me, “Oh, I can’t believe you’re going to San Jose.” I I go where anybody wants me and uh anybody who wants me, I’m excited to do whatever I can for that team and that organization and um yeah, so I’m I’m excited to get down there. All right. Look forward to seeing you again. Absolutely. We’ll go to Mark Masters. Ryan, what are you going to remember most about your time in Toronto? Oh man, I I think uh I think the guys that I met there, I feel like I made some lifelong friends there. Um yeah, I I I guess that that’s got to be the number one for me. And you know, Toronto is, you know, first class organization. You know, I’ve been on some really good in some really good organizations. I just, you know, Toronto just treats their players, I don’t know what it is, just a little bit extra. Um, you know, and I think, you know, that comes with the standard of, uh, putting a winning team on the ice. But, um, I think number one is just all all the guys that I made friends with. What, if anything, I guess, surprised you about the experience of playing in Toronto? It can be a unique market. What surprised me? um the ups and downs of uh of the fans in uh in playoffs. I think um you know the the arena could have been absolutely rocking at one point and then just dead silent the other point and uh you know I think that surprised me a little bit but um passionate fans are are going to be passionate fans. Did you feel like there was more pressure in Toronto than in other stops along the way? You know there there is for sure. Um I I think the first year I experienced it more. Um you know the first I had you know a couple of really good games. You know we’ve talked about this a couple times. I had you know my I started the season two years ago very well and then just you know things were just going really wrong for me and you know all of a sudden this whole city wanted me out of there and you know I don’t I don’t think you see that in other organizations. Now, having said that, there’s, you know, whatever nine million people there, so there’s a lot more voices and obviously the hockey mech of of the world, so there’s going to be a lot more voices because of that. But, um, yeah, I mean, it wasn’t it wasn’t anything too crazy. It definitely is different, but it’s it’s nothing too crazy. Final one for me. You mentioned the friendships you made. I’m just wondering what you learned the most about kind of the core guys. I know Mitch is is moving on, but what what stood out to you about the core guys in Toronto? Just how hard they work. I mean, uh, when I when I got there two years ago, uh, and you’re doing kind of those skates before training camp starts, you’re just kind of scrimmaging, you know, you had Matthews, Tvarz, Mitchie, Willie, they’re all on the ice first and they’re all, you know, grinding before anybody else is and and and you start to realize why they’re some of the best players in the world because they’re really putting in the work. It’s, you know, they’re obviously very talented. They were born with that talent, but, you know, they work extra hard for that talent to to really shine through on the ice. Thanks so much, Ryan. Good luck in San Jose. No problem. Thank you. We’ll go to Tom. Ryan, just just looking, you know, obviously you’re you’re going into the last year your contract. You’re you’re 38 years old. How how much did that factor, you know, I don’t know what happens after that, but how much did that factor into you wanting to get some somewhere else where you could play, you know, with, you know, not having, you know, it’s near the end of your career, obviously. Well, says you, I guess, but um No, I mean, you’re 38. I mean, hey, I’m like a fine wine. Um, okay. Uh, yeah. I mean, look, I again, I said anywhere that wants me, I’m I’m willing to go play and uh and do everything I can. Um, yeah, I know I’m a little bit older now. Um, but I I still think I got a year year or two left. Um, I I you know, I’m I’m 83 games away from a thousand and so that is uh that that’s definitely a big goal of mine. Uh, I really hope to have a good year in San Jose and make a good enough impression to, you know, maybe buy one more contract. Um, uh, so yeah, I guess that’s uh that’s that’s part of the reason for sure. Yeah, I say you you obviously feel you have a lot left to give here at this stage. I I think I still have some left. Yeah, for sure. And I still I still love the game and I still love uh you know, going to the rink and working out and grinding with the fellas. So um you know, once I lose that, I think it’ll be time to hang it up, but I haven’t lost that yet. And uh you know the body’s still hanging on so um I think I still got a couple years left. Thanks very much. No problem. Marco. Hey Ryan. Marco, college barrier sports rep. Uh you know, you were just talking about phys, you know, your body and how it’s how it’s working. So you know, would you say, you know, it’s 100% right now? Well, I don’t know if any 38year-old hockey player is 100%, but um it is it’s good enough to get on the ice and get up and down and and play play the way I need to play physical and and fight when I need to. So, um yeah, I mean, look, every every hockey player has bumps and bruises and and things that they deal with. Uh as you get older, they just kind of linger a little bit more and sometimes they’re a little more sore, but um you know, I love this game, so it doesn’t really matter. And you know, at 38, I mean, realistically, how much do you really have left in the tank? And how many And realistically, how many games do you think you’ll be able to play this year? I mean, if if they give me the opportunity, I’ll try and play all 82. Um, you know, I’ll test it out. I, you know, I can’t predict the future. I can’t tell you that, you know, game 40 something doesn’t fall apart and I need some time off. But, um, I mean, yeah, I I feel like I can grind through 82. And lastly for me, do you feel that time are you the type of person that that believes that time heals all wounds? Kind of like the and you’re in a situation where, you know, when Ralphie Torres came here, he was much hated by the Sharks fans, but you know, they grew to love him. Do you feel that’s going to happen with you here as well? I mean, I hope so. You know, I I think fans are always going to hate you when you’re on another team, especially on when you’re on a rival team. Um, but you make a good enough impression when you when you come to the city and and you do what you’re supposed to do and you and you do to other teams what you’re doing to them, I I think you can win them over. Uh, no problem. I mean, that that’s the goal anyways. All right. Thanks, Ryan. Welcome to San Jose. Thank you. Take some final round of questions. Starting with Max. Brian, I just wanted to ask if you if you knew anybody on the on the Sharks and and obviously you’ve had a lot of history here, but if you knew anybody, whether it’s like a park like Goodro, who I know you played with in New York, and have you had any contact with them? Yeah, so Goodie is uh you know, one of my good friends. That was my my running mate in New York. He lived uh you know, four or five minutes away from us and uh so we were carpulling you know, in New York obviously a lot of driving. So we would carpool everywhere together. Um, and so, you know, coming here, I’m obviously excited to reunite with uh reunite with him. Um, got to meet Jumbo on uh the Leaf’s father’s trip last year. Uh, mentors trip, I guess it was. Matthews bought him on the trip. So, got to meet him. Great guy. Look forward to hanging out with him a little bit. Other than that, I don’t know if I know anybody else on the team, though. Um, and then last one for me. I mean, I don’t know how much you follow the Sharks or know about Ryan Rosski and that intense and that physical style, but I feel like that that meets your your style of play and mentality on the ice. How do you feel that the the Sharks fit that intense hard effort, hard forchecking style, and how do you think it uh fits you two? Well, I mean, yeah, if it’s a if it’s more of a finesse uh finesse coach, then, you know, I don’t think it would be a fit for me. But, um, you know, from what I’ve heard, he he likes the heavy for check, you know, kind of the the grinding the grinding style of the game and, uh, you know, obviously that’s that’s what I try and bring. Awesome. Thanks. No problem. Rosie, hey, Ryan. Dan Rousenowski, Sharks Audio Network. Welcome to San Jose. I want to ask you about uh the the fact that the last couple of stops that you’ve had in the league, you’ve had a chance to play with some real superstar players. I mean, it’s obvious in Toronto, but uh you know, Panaran in New York and Caril Capri off in in Minnesota. What do you make of the opportunity you have now to to see some upand cominging guys like Celbrini and Smith get into that level and and what do you make of them as players? Yeah, I mean I I’ve been with players who are super have been established superstars and uh you know they’ve been doing it for years. So coming here and being able to you know watch some of these young kids grow um you know I think the Sharks have some of the best young superstars in the league. I think they’ve drafted really well and those kids are going to grow into you know the Matthews the the Panerans whatever they want to be they’re going to grow into. So I’m excited to watch them grow. Uh, I’m excited to work with them. Um, it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be fun watching them. Thank you very much. No problem. We’ll uh we’ll wrap here with Shang. Hey Ryan, just wanted to ask you, you’ve been on both sides of the Sharks Vegas rivalry in the sense of um 2018 you guys win, 2019 you guys lose. Just what’s your, you know, your favorite memory kind of of that rivalry of that of those playoff battles? Favorite memory? I mean, anytime we won, I guess, cuz it definitely wasn’t the times you guys beat us, and definitely wasn’t that game seven overtime. I’ll tell you that much, which, you know, of course, good draw scored, but um yeah, I I I just I think rivalries are good for the game. Uh I think rivalries are my favorite part of the game, for my style of play, you know, that that just seems to get me a little more amped up. And that was just, you know, from from an expansion team coming in and just immediately having a rivalry right like that uh within the first year was I I thought it was amazing. I thought it was really good for the game and uh whether it was playoffs or regular season, those games were just a lot of fun. Everybody was tuned in and so I I just I just remember all the all the battles we had on the ice. Thanks.

Ryan Reaves speaks to the media after being acquired by San Jose via trade on July 10, 2025.