Ryan Reaves is still chasing one last shot at the NHL, and the goal is a big one: 1,000 games.
The former St. Louis Blues winger said recently on TSN’s 1050 in Toronto that he wants to suit up for one more season, which would put him within reach of the milestone if he lands a spot for 2026-27. At 39, Reaves would need just 38 more games to get there.
“Playing 1,000 games in the NHL is an honor, for sure, especially in the role that I play,” Reaves said on 1050’s First Up show. “But I’ve been training all summer already, and the body’s holding up pretty well. I just think I got one more left in the tank.
“As I came into the league, the older guys would give me advice,” Reaves added. “One [piece of] advice that has been consistent throughout all of them is, ‘Always play as long as you possibly can, because when it’s over, it’s over, and you’re gonna miss it.’
You don’t want to have regrets of, ‘oh, you know, I could’ve played one more year, and I shouldn’t have shut it down.’ I don’t want to have that regret.
I think one more year would be fun, and to say I played to 40 would also be kind of fun, too.”
Reaves built his reputation as one of hockey’s most physical and divisive players after debuting with St. Louis in the 2010-11 season. He spent seven seasons in the Blues organization, appearing in 419 NHL games and 214 more with the club’s AHL affiliate.
After leaving St. Louis, he kept moving around the league, logging 58 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, 209 with the Vegas Golden Knights, 81 with the New York Rangers, 61 with the Minnesota Wild, 84 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and 50 with the San Jose Sharks.
Through 962 NHL games, Reaves has 66 goals and 140 points. He has also piled up 1,137 penalty minutes, which ranks seventh among active players.
At this stage of his career, the 6-foot-2, right-handed winger has found it harder to stay effective outside of his physical edge and fighting ability. If he gets another chance, he may need to earn it with a professional tryout before landing an NHL contract.
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