Ryan Reaves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryan Reaves
Reaves with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018
Born	(1987-01-20) January 20, 1987 (age 38) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Toronto Maple Leafs St. Louis Blues Pittsburgh Penguins Vegas Golden Knights New York Rangers Minnesota Wild
NHL Draft	156th overall, 2005 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2007–present

Ryan Reaves (born January 20, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a right winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL). Before joining the Maple Leafs, he played for the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, and New York Rangers. Ryan is the son of Willard Reaves, a former professional gridiron football player. His father played in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

Ryan Reaves' Hockey Journey

Early Years in Hockey

Ryan Reaves started playing hockey when he was five years old. He also played football from the age of eight. When he was younger, Reaves played in the 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He was part of the Winnipeg South Monarchs team.

He had to stop playing football after a knee injury during a hockey tournament. This injury kept him from playing football before his Western Hockey League (WHL) draft year. Reaves was chosen 36th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2002 WHL bantam draft.

Even after being drafted, Reaves continued to play for his school team, the St. John's-Ravenscourt School. He helped them win the 2004 McDonald's Provincial High School Hockey Championship. Reaves then joined the Wheat Kings for his first full season in 2004–05. The next season, he was named an alternate captain for the team.

Becoming a Pro Hockey Player

Playing for the St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues picked Ryan Reaves 156th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. On May 15, 2007, he signed a three-year contract with the Blues. After his junior hockey season, Reaves went to the Blues' training camp. He was then sent to their minor league team, the Peoria Rivermen, in the American Hockey League (AHL).

While playing for the Rivermen in the 2007–08 season, he got injured. He was then sent to the Alaska Aces, another minor league team in the ECHL.

Reaves was called up to the Blues on October 10, 2010. This happened after another player, Cam Janssen, got injured. Reaves played his first NHL game on October 11, 2010. He spent 15 minutes in the penalty box during the Blues' 5–1 win against the Anaheim Ducks. He later scored his first NHL goal on January 12, 2011, also against the Ducks.

His 2015–16 season was cut short because of a knee injury. When he returned to play, he weighed 225 pounds instead of his usual 230 pounds. During the off-season, he worked out with the Blues' assistant coach, Sean Ferrell.

Time with the Pittsburgh Penguins

On June 23, 2017, after playing seven seasons with the Blues, Reaves was traded. He went to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a second-round draft pick. In return, the Blues received Oskar Sundqvist and the Penguins' first-round pick in the 2017 draft. During the 2017–18 NHL season, Reaves helped the Penguins by adding toughness to their lower lines. He scored 4 goals and had 8 points in 58 games.

Joining the Vegas Golden Knights

On February 23, 2018, Reaves was part of a trade that sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights. This was a three-team trade that also involved the Ottawa Senators. Reaves scored the goal that won the series against the Winnipeg Jets. This win helped the Golden Knights reach the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. He also scored in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, which the Golden Knights won 6–4. However, the Washington Capitals won the next four games and took home the Stanley Cup.

On July 1, 2018, Reaves signed a two-year contract with the Golden Knights. The next season (2018–19), he had his best year yet. He scored nine goals and earned 20 points. On June 15, 2020, the Golden Knights signed Reaves to another two-year contract extension.

Playing for the New York Rangers

Ryan Reaves with the New York Rangers in December 2021

On July 29, 2021, the Golden Knights traded Reaves to the New York Rangers. The Rangers gave up a third-round draft pick in 2022 for him. On July 31, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Rangers.

With the Minnesota Wild

Reaves did not score any points in 12 games with the Rangers at the start of the 2022–23 season. On November 23, 2022, the Rangers traded him to the Minnesota Wild. In exchange, the Wild sent a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Rangers.

Moving to the Toronto Maple Leafs

After looking at offers from other teams, Reaves signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This happened on July 1, 2023.

Ryan Reaves' Playing Style

In the NHL, Ryan Reaves is known as an enforcer. This means he is known for fighting, protecting his teammates, and making the opposing team feel intimidated. Even though he is known for this role, he often plays on checking lines. These lines focus on aggressively pressuring the other team.

Reaves' playing style has sometimes led to issues with the NHL Department of Player Safety. He has been suspended four times during his NHL career, missing a total of eleven games. He has also been fined three other times.

For example, in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Reaves was suspended for one game. This was for an illegal hit to the head of Vancouver Canucks player Tyler Motte. In 2016, he was suspended for three games for hitting San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Tennyson into the boards. On November 16, 2024, Reaves was suspended for five games. This was for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.

Personal Life

Ryan Reaves' father, Willard Reaves, was a professional football player. He played in both the Canadian Football League and the National Football League. Ryan was born in Winnipeg when his father was playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Ryan also has a brother, Jordan Reaves, who plays for the Edmonton Elks. He also has an older sister named Regina.

Ryan Reaves is a citizen of both America and Canada.

Reaves has said he is a distant relative of Bass Reeves. Bass Reeves was a former slave who became one of the first Black deputy U.S. marshals. Bass Reeves' life is the subject of a 2023 TV series called Lawmen: Bass Reeves. He worked as a deputy U.S. marshal in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He worked under Judge Isaac C. Parker, who was known as the "Hanging Judge."

Career Statistics

Images for kids

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  Reaves with the St. Louis Blues in March 2014.