Former Minnesota Wild enforcer Ryan Reaves has retired from the NHL after 16 seasons.
On Wednesday, long-time NHLer and Minnesota Wild enforcer Ryan Reaves announced his retirement from hockey with a social media post.
In his Instagram post, the 39-year-old shared his love for the sport and what it meant to him.
Reaves played 16 NHL seasons, scoring 66 goals and 140 points in 962 games. Reaves spent just one season with the Wild, but he made his mark on the fans and organization as a positive personality. As an enforcer, Reaves wasn't lighting it up offensively, but teammates constantly raved about his energy and his ability to stand up for them on the ice.
In his season with the Wild, Reaves recorded 31 penalty minutes and 1,137 across his NHL career.
"I never thought this day would come. I thought I was invincible. I thought I could play forever, but like all good things, it must come to an end," Reaves wrote in his retirement post.
"Today, I retire from the sport I’ve loved since I was 5 years old. It was a hell of a ride. Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this journey. I may not be on the ice anymore, but I know I will always be close to hockey in one way or another. You can rest easy knowing the corners are a little safer today," he added.
"Mic drop, gloves drop. Reavo out."
In his retirement post, Reaves shared several pictures of his NHL career. He began with the St. Louis Blues, who drafted him in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL draft. He then moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the New York Rangers before joining the Wild. After his lone season in Minnesota, he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs and finished his career with the San Jose Sharks.
Reaves didn't win any hardware and fell just short of the 1,000-game mark, but he will be remembered for his physical style and the impact his personality had on the NHL.
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