Sharks SHOCKING Acquisition of Ryan Reaves Through Trade from Maple Leafs Has Fans Fuming: “Waste of Roster Space”

The San Jose Sharks received veteran forward Ryan Reaves from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun.

Sharks SHOCKING Acquisition of Ryan Reaves Through Trade from Maple Leafs Has Fans Fuming: “Waste of Roster Space”

Ryan Reaves (Image via X/@Sportsnet)

The San Jose Sharks are receiving a top name through a trade. On Thursday, General Manager Mike Grier announced that the team has acquired veteran forward Ryan Reaves through a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun. This development has left fans on social media fuming.

Reaves had one year and $1.35 million remaining on his contract with the Maple Leafs. The Toronto-based side would decide to free up this financial space by giving him away.

The 38-year-old has played 912 regular-season games with teams like the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, and the Maple Leafs. In this, he has scored 63 goals and has 74 assists (137 points) while having over 1,100 penalties, signifying his role as the team’s enforcer.

In an attempt to change the culture of the team, the Maple Leafs parted ways with the experienced player and brought in another young and fresh face. Thrum, who was acquired from Anaheim in 2023, has played three seasons in San Jose and has 5 goals and 20 assists (25 points) in 119 games with them.

Speaking on the trade move of Reaves, GM Grier expressed that he had been part of many winning teams and had firsthand experience of seeing him play while he was with the Rangers.

We’re excited to welcome Ryan to the organization. He will bring energy, personality, physical play and toughness to our group. He has been a part of many winning teams, and I witnessed firsthand the positive impact he can bring to a group when I was with the Rangers.

Last season in Toronto, Reaves played just 35 games. During this, he recorded just 2 assists and had 0 goals. He also recorded just 28 penalty minutes and did not take a single shift during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Social media reacts to San Jose Sharks acquiring Ryan Reaves

Ryan Reaves being traded away to the San Jose Sharks came as a little bit of a surprise to many. The veteran still had one year remaining on his contract and was expected by many to see it out with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ryan Reaves
Ryan Reaves (Image via The Hockey Beast)

As Reaves gears up to play for his 7th different team in the NHL, the majority of the San Jose Sharks fanbase on social media was left fuming with this move. Many of them questioned this move and slammed the team management. One user wrote, “Waste of roster space” while expressing dissatisfaction with this development.

Check out that and some other reactions regarding Reaves’ trade from X below:

The Sharks are still in the rebuilding phase. Last year, they finished bottom of the league standings with a 20-50-12 record and just 52 points while having a goal differential of -105. Given the young core they have, the experience of Reaves in the locker room could be vital for the team.

Ryan Reaves recently called out the Maple Leafs fans following the departure of Mitch Marner

One of the biggest offseason moves saw Mitch Marner leave the Toronto Maple Leafs and join the Vegas Golden Knights. Following his move, Ryan Reaves called out the Maple Leafs fanbase while defending his former teammate.

Ryan Reaves and Mitch Marner
Ryan Reaves and Mitch Marner (Image via X/@Leafslatest/Imago)

Marner was in the final year of his 6-year contract that he signed in 2019. After reportedly declining a large contract extension and blocking off a trade move earlier in the year, Marner would join the Golden Knights following a sign-and-trade deal. He penned down an 8-year, $96 million contract with the Maple Leafs and was then traded to the Golden Knights.

The move of Marner ignited mixed reactions among the Maple Leafs fanbase. While some wished him well, there were some who did not appreciate the way he left his hometown team.

While speaking at the Cam & Strick Podcast, Reaves claimed that the fans could be a little ‘ruthless‘ towards him and expressed that the player had earned the right to make his own decision.

I think they can be a little ruthless to him. I guess just because he’s the hometown guy, and sometimes fans want to point fingers at somebody… Mitchy (Mitch Marner) earned the right to go wherever he wants, and he’s dedicated his whole career to Toronto… He deserved the contract he got.

Marner joined the Maple Leafs during the 2016-17 season and went on to spend 9 years with the team. He would form the ‘Core 4‘ of the team alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares. In his 657 regular-season games with the team, he collected 771 points (221 goals and 520 assists).

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