Ryan Reaves

Early Life and Junior Career

Ryan Reaves was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on January 20, 1987, while his father, Willard Reaves, was playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He began playing hockey at age five and also took up football at age eight, demonstrating the athletic versatility that ran in his family. As a youth, he participated in the prestigious 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Winnipeg South Monarchs minor hockey team. A torn posterior cruciate ligament suffered during a hockey tournament ultimately forced him to give up football, a decision that coincided with his Western Hockey League draft year and prevented him from competing in the football season prior to it. The Brandon Wheat Kings selected Reaves 36th overall in the 2002 WHL bantam draft. Before joining the Wheat Kings, he played for the St. John's-Ravenscourt School hockey team where he led them to the 2004 McDonald's Provincial High School Hockey Championship. He began his major junior career with the Brandon Wheat Kings for the 2004-05 season and was named an alternate captain for the 2005-06 campaign alongside teammates Mark Derlago, Riley Day, and Derek LeBlanc, demonstrating early leadership qualities.

Professional Career

Reaves was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth round, 156th overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blues on May 15, 2007, officially beginning his professional journey. After attending the Blues' 2007 training camp, he was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, for the 2007-08 season. His professional debut season was interrupted by an injury in a game against the Rockford IceHogs, leading to a reassignment to the Blues' ECHL affiliate, the Alaska Aces. Reaves made his NHL debut on October 11, 2010, after being recalled from Peoria following an injury to teammate Cam Janssen, and he recorded 15 penalty minutes in a 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. He was returned to Peoria after two NHL games but was later recalled, scoring his first NHL goal on January 12, 2011, again against the Ducks, beating goaltender Jonas Hiller. His 2015-16 season was shortened by a knee injury, after which he returned to the lineup at a lighter playing weight of 225 pounds instead of his usual 230, having trained during the offseason with Blues assistant and video coach Sean Ferrell.

After seven seasons in St. Louis, Reaves was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 23, 2017, along with a 2017 second-round pick in exchange for Oskar Sundqvist and Pittsburgh's 2017 first-round pick. In 58 games with the Penguins during the 2017-18 season, he added muscle to the lower lines, recording 4 goals and 8 points. His tenure in Pittsburgh was brief, as he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on February 23, 2018, as part of a three-way trade also involving the Ottawa Senators, with Pittsburgh receiving Tobias Lindberg. With Vegas, Reaves scored the series-clinching goal against the Winnipeg Jets to send the Golden Knights to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, and he also scored in Game 1 of that final, a 6-4 Vegas victory. The Golden Knights signed him to a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension on June 15, 2020. On May 31, 2021, during the second round of the playoffs, Reaves was suspended for five games for an injury on Colorado Avalanche skater Ryan Graves.

On July 29, 2021, Vegas traded Reaves to the New York Rangers for a 2022 third-round draft pick, and he signed a one-year contract extension with the team on July 31. After going scoreless in 12 games to start the 2022-23 season, New York traded him to the Minnesota Wild on November 23, 2022, for a 2025 fifth-round pick. Entering free agency in the summer of 2023, Reaves signed a three-year, $4.05 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1. His final NHL transaction came on July 10, 2025, when the Maple Leafs traded him to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenceman Henry Thrun. Reaves announced his retirement from professional hockey via an Instagram post on September 16, 2026, concluding a 16-year NHL journey.

Playing Style and Discipline

Throughout his NHL career, Ryan Reaves was defined as an enforcer, a role dedicated to physical intimidation, fighting, and protecting teammates. He was frequently deployed on checking lines to execute an aggressive forechecking sequence, using his size and strength to disrupt opponents. This physical approach regularly brought him into conflict with the NHL's Department of Player Safety, resulting in multiple suspensions and fines over his career. His disciplinary record includes four suspensions totalling eleven regular-season and playoff games, plus three separate fines levied for various infractions. Notable suspensions include a two-game ban during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs for a match penalty against Colorado's Ryan Graves, where he was deemed to have attempted to injure Graves by kneeling on his neck and pulling his hair. He was suspended for Game 7 of the Golden Knights' second round against the Vancouver Canucks in the 2020 playoffs for an illegal hit to the head of Tyler Motte. Earlier, he received a three-game suspension for boarding San Jose Sharks defenceman Matt Tennyson in 2016. His most severe regular-season suspension was a five-game ban levied on November 16, 2024, for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse during a game between the Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Activism and Social Justice

In the summer of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Ryan Reaves emerged as a leading voice for racial justice within the NHL, organizing several demonstrations of support for the Black Lives Matter movement. As one of only two Black players on the Vegas Golden Knights roster at the time, he organized a team demonstration before their exhibition game against the Arizona Coyotes on July 30, 2020. The entire team locked arms and bowed their heads during the national anthem, a gesture Reaves chose because not all teammates were comfortable kneeling, showing a pragmatic approach to building unity. Several days later, on August 3, 2020, before a game against the Dallas Stars, Reaves approached Stars forward Tyler Seguin about his plan to kneel during the anthem. Seguin agreed to join him, and after Seguin told the locker room, Stars forward Jason Dickinson and Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner also volunteered. The four players, Reaves, who is Black, and the three white players, Seguin, Dickinson, and Lehner, knelt for both the American and Canadian national anthems, creating a powerful and historic moment of solidarity that was widely noted across professional sports.

Personal Life and Family

Ryan Reaves comes from a prominent athletic family deeply rooted in Canadian sports. His father, Willard Reaves, was a professional running back who played in both the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Rough Riders and in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins. His brother, Jordan Reaves, is a professional football player with the Edmonton Elks of the CFL, and he has an older sister named Regina. Reaves is married to Alanna, and the couple has two children together, a son named Kane and a daughter named Kamilla. He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, reflecting his binational heritage and career. Reaves has also publicly claimed descent from Bass Reeves, a former slave who became one of the first Black deputy U.S. marshals and whose life was dramatized in the 2023 television series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, connecting his personal history to a broader narrative of Black achievement.

Notable Career Events and Highlights

Ryan Reaves was drafted 156th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2005 NHL entry draft. He made his NHL debut on October 11, 2010, serving 15 penalty minutes in a win over the Anaheim Ducks. During the 2018 playoffs with the Vegas Golden Knights, he scored the series-winning goal over the Winnipeg Jets to qualify for the Stanley Cup Final and also scored in game one of the Final. He later organized demonstrations of support for the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. Reaves announced his retirement from professional hockey on September 16, 2026, through an Instagram post.

• 2002: Drafted 36th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL Bantam Draft.
• 2005: Drafted 156th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Entry Draft.
• October 11, 2010: Made NHL debut with St. Louis, recording 15 penalty minutes in a win over Anaheim.
• January 12, 2011: Scored his first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks on goaltender Jonas Hiller.
• June 23, 2017: Traded from the St. Louis Blues to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a multi-asset deal.
• May 20, 2018: Scored the series-winning goal for Vegas against Winnipeg to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
• July 30, 2020: Organized and led the Vegas Golden Knights in a locked-arms demonstration for racial justice before an exhibition game.
• August 3, 2020: Knelt during the national anthems with Tyler Seguin, Jason Dickinson, and Robin Lehner in a historic show of solidarity.
• May 31, 2021: Suspended for five games in the second round of the playoffs for an injury on Ryan Graves.
• July 10, 2025: Traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the San Jose Sharks for Henry Thrun.
• September 16, 2026: Announced his retirement from professional hockey via an Instagram post.

Role and Impact on the Ice

Ryan Reaves's primary impact on the ice was as a deterrent and an energy player, a role that became increasingly rare in the modern NHL. His presence on a team's fourth line or checking unit was intended to dissuade opponents from taking liberties with star players through the threat of physical retaliation. Coaches valued him for his ability to execute aggressive forechecking sequences, using his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame to create turnovers and establish a physical tone early in games. This style, while effective for team morale and intimidation, directly led to his extensive history with the league's Department of Player Safety and his high penalty minute totals. His playoff performances, particularly his crucial goals for the Vegas Golden Knights during their inaugural 2018 run, demonstrated that his value extended to clutch moments in high-pressure situations, endearing him to fans and teammates alike.

Questions about Ryan Reaves

Which NHL teams did Ryan Reaves play for?

Ryan Reaves played for seven NHL teams during his 16-season career. He began with the St. Louis Blues, who drafted him in 2005, and played there from 2010 to 2017. He was then traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2017-18 season. In February 2018, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, where he played until 2021. His journey across these franchises highlights the role of the travelling enforcer in the modern NHL.

What is Ryan Reaves known for off the ice?

Off the ice, Ryan Reaves is known for his activism in support of racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement. In the summer of 2020, he organized his Vegas Golden Knights teammates to lock arms and bow their heads during the national anthem before an exhibition game. Days later, he and three other players, Tyler Seguin, Jason Dickinson, and Robin Lehner, knelt during both the American and Canadian national anthems, creating a significant moment of solidarity. He has also claimed descent from Bass Reeves, a historic Black deputy U.S. marshal, linking his personal history to a story of groundbreaking achievement.

Who is Ryan Reaves's father and what is his sports background?

Ryan Reaves's father is Willard Reaves, a former professional football player who had a significant career in Canadian sports. Willard Reaves played as a running back in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Rough Riders, and he also had a stint in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins. Ryan was born in Winnipeg in 1987 while his father was a member of the Blue Bombers. His brother, Jordan Reaves, also plays professional football as a defensive back with the Edmonton Elks of the CFL, continuing the family's athletic legacy.

Why was Ryan Reaves suspended in the 2021 playoffs?

Ryan Reaves was suspended for two games in the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs for an incident involving Colorado Avalanche skater Ryan Graves. The NHL Department of Player Safety issued the suspension after Reaves received a match penalty for attempting to injure Graves. The specific ruling stated that Reaves knelt on Graves's neck and pulled parts of his hair out. This was one of several disciplinary actions Reaves faced during his career due to his physical playing style. His history includes four suspensions totalling eleven games and three additional fines from the league's Department of Player Safety.

When and how did Ryan Reaves retire?

Ryan Reaves announced his retirement from professional hockey on September 16, 2026, through a post on his Instagram account. This announcement followed a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the San Jose Sharks on July 10, 2025, in exchange for defenceman Henry Thrun. His retirement marked the end of a 16-season National Hockey League career. Reaves had made his NHL debut with the St. Louis Blues on October 11, 2010. Over his career, he played for seven different NHL teams, concluding his playing days after the trade to San Jose.

What was Ryan Reaves's best offensive season and his career statistics?

He achieved these numbers after signing a two-year contract with the Golden Knights on July 1, 2018. His role on the team often involved aggressive forechecking and physical play, typical of an enforcer. Throughout his 16-season NHL career, Reaves was known more for his physical presence than scoring, serving as a protector for his teammates. He played for multiple teams including the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vegas Golden Knights before retiring.

Sources and further reading

• Ryan Reaves (Wikipedia)
• Ryan Reaves Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title (hockey-reference.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.