See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source Ryan Reaves has played his final game in the National Hockey League. The Winnipeg native, who played in 962 NHL games, including 84 during two seasons with the Maple Leafs, announced on Wednesday on Instagram that he is retiring.
On his account (@reavo7five), Reaves, via a letter that he began with “Dear Hockey,” wrote: “It’s hard to put into words what you meant to me. What you mean to me.
“I had dreams of being an athlete. Football, hockey — it didn’t matter.
I learned at a young age that I just wanted to lay people out. The physical part of sports was what I was always drawn to.
I knew that’s what I wanted, but tell 10-year-old Reavo he was going to play in the NHL for 16 seasons? I don’t think he’d believe you.
“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. I love this sport more than almost anything in this world.
It has taken me to places I never thought I’d go and has introduced me to people I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. The fans, the haters, the ups, the downs
I wouldn’t trade it for anything. “I never thought this day would come.
I thought I was invincible. I thought I could play forever, but like all good things, it must come to an end.
“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.
“I may not be on the ice anymore, but I know I will always be close to hockey in one way or another. “You can rest easy knowing the corners are a little safer today.
“Mic drop, gloves drop. “Reavo out.” At his playing peak, the 39-year-old Reaves was one of the NHL’s feared enforcers, finishing with 1,137 penalty minutes with St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Vegas, the New York Rangers, Minnesota, the Leafs and San Jose.
In 2025-26, his final NHL season, Reaves, one of the few NHL players who had no trouble speaking his mind, had three goals in 50 games with the Sharks. With the Leafs from 2023-25, Reaves had four goals and four assists and 77 penalty minutes.
Reaves certainly put in the work to get to the NHL, spending four seasons with Peoria of the American Hockey League from 2007-2011 before becoming a full-time winger in the NHL. Among those who initially sent good wishes to Reaves via Instagram were Mitch Marner, Tie Domi, Brett Hull, John Klingberg and new Leafs forward Brandon Duhaime.
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