Ryan Reaves Isn't Done, Seeking One More NHL Opportunity
The 39-year-old enforcer, who remains an unrestricted free agent after spending last season with the San Jose Sharks, made it clear he wants to play one more year during a recent appearance on TSN 1050's First Up.
"I just think I've got one more left in the tank," Reaves said.
Chasing 1,000 Games
Reaves sits at 962 career games, meaning he is just 38 shy of the 1,000-game mark, a plateau reached only 425 times in NHL history and a rare feat for a career enforcer.
"Playing 1,000 games in the NHL is an honor for sure, especially in the role that I've played," Reaves said. "I've been training all summer already, and my body's holding up pretty well."
Ryan Reaves says he’s been training all summer in hopes of playing one more NHL season 💪
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) July 24, 2026
The 39-year-old is just 38 games away from reaching 1,000 for his career.
“I just think I’ve got one more left in the tank.” 👀 (@FirstUp1050) pic.twitter.com/pVatgVyGv4
He pointed to advice he received early in his career as the driving force.
"As I came into the league and the older guys have given me advice, one piece of advice that has been consistent throughout all of them is play as long as you possibly can, because when it's over, it's over," Reaves said. "You don't want to have regrets of 'I could have played one more year.' I don't want to have that regret."
The Market
The interest exists, but nothing formal has come yet.
Reaves revealed his camp has been in contact with a couple of teams, though no offers have been presented.
"Interest doesn't pay the bills and interest doesn't get you on the ice," Reaves said. "I think at my age, I'm going to be one of the last puzzle pieces for some teams, and I'm fine with that."
Given where he is in his career and the limited fourth-line role he would play, Reaves is likely to only receive an offer worth the league minimum, whether a guaranteed deal or a professional tryout.
Teams still looking to make moves this late in the summer are generally aiming higher in the lineup for upgrades, so filling an enforcer spot is rarely a priority in July.
The Career
Reaves has carved out a remarkable path for a player of his archetype.
The Winnipeg native has played 16 seasons across seven organizations, including the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Sharks.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound winger owns 66 goals, 74 assists, 3,225 hits, and 1,137 penalty minutes across his career.
Last season in San Jose, he scored three goals with 160 hits in 50 games before an upper-body injury, believed to be a broken finger suffered in a March fight against Flyers forward Garrett Wilson, ended his season.
"I'm hoping an offer comes somewhat soon," he said. "I've got to get the kids into school and on hockey teams and gymnastics and all that, so that's part of the business."
At 39 and turning 40 in January, Reaves faces an uphill climb to find a roster spot, but if a team gives him the chance, one of the game's most recognizable enforcers will get his shot at hockey immortality.
