{"id":466645,"date":"2026-09-17T10:18:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T10:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/466645\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T10:18:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T10:18:27","slug":"former-sharks-villain-turned-favorite-retires-just-short-of-major-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/466645\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Sharks Villain Turned Favorite Retires Just Short Of Major Milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Reaves<\/a> announced his official retirement from the NHL on Wednesday via an Instagram post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reaves, 39, ends his NHL career just 38 games from reaching the prized 1,000-game mark. The winger hoped to return to the Sharks this season with that goal in mind. With the Sharks\u2019 busy off-season, there just wasn\u2019t room to bring him back.<\/p>\n

#SJSharks<\/a> Reaves on his family is supporting him to go for 1,000 games. \u201cI’ve asked them many times if it’s time to just kind of help coach my son’s team and just be around a little bit more. They’ve given me an absolute no. I don’t know if they don’t like me around or what it\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) April 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The former San Jose Sharks winger was a villain at SAP Center<\/a> for years. First as a member of the St. Louis Blues<\/a>, then the heat turned up when he joined the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> in 2017. The Sharks acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> last season, and he quickly became a fan favorite.<\/p>\n

He sat next to Macklin Celebrini<\/a> in the locker room, an intentional move by the Sharks staff. That move helped bring out a bigger personality in the young superstar, and it carried throughout the rest of the locker room.<\/p>\n

Reaves had 98 career fights in the NHL (regular season and postseason), and although his on-ice play declined recently, he was a huge value to the San Jose Sharks in 25-26.<\/p>\n

That was evident after the winger injured his finger in what would be his final NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 21st. Barclay Goodrow<\/a> held back tears during a postgame interview when asked about Reaves.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an unbelievable teammate. Sorry, guys.\u201d *Goodrow broke down here* \u201cHe\u2019s a guy that brings it all every night. Great, great friend,\u201d Goodrow said. \u201cHe\u2019s the best guy. Even when you know he\u2019s not playing, he\u2019s there for everyone. He works his butt off every day. I think everyone in the room can learn a lot from a guy like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Congratulations to Ryan Reaves on an incredible career.<\/p>\n