Reaves: 'Lack of trust' led to Leafs departure

Forward Ryan Reaves revealed Friday that a fractured relationship with the Toronto Maple Leafs led him to seek a fresh start elsewhere, ultimately resulting in a trade to the San Jose Sharks.

"I think there was just a lack of trust very early in the season," Reaves said. "It just looked like (if) I had one bad game, I was out of the lineup for four, five, six, seven, eight, nine games. I'd come back in, have a good game, but taken right back out. I just really could never gain any momentum with my game, couldn't really gain any traction."

The Leafs dealt the veteran enforcer in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun on Thursday.

Reaves signed a three-year contract worth $1.35 million per season with Toronto in 2023. Leafs general manager Brad Treliving brought in the 6-foot-2, 225-pound winger to provide a physical presence but waived and demoted the 38-year-old to the AHL in March to clear cap space.

"I told (Treliving) at the end of the year, I just thought that this wasn't, obviously, a good fit," Reaves said. "I'm assuming he probably thought the same after putting me on waivers and sending me to the minors, and just thought it was kind of time to part ways."

Reaves scored all four of his goals with the Leafs during his debut campaign. A knee injury took him out for a stretch in 2023 before the team began making him a frequent healthy scratch. Reaves said he eventually felt targeted by the Leafs' fan base.

"I started the season two years ago very well, and then things just started going really wrong for me, and all of a sudden this whole city wanted me out of there," Reaves said.

Despite the unheralded departure, Reaves called the Leafs a "first-class organization" and lauded the way the club treats its players.