Over the last 25 years, there have been some very good rivalries between individual players. There's been Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, Martin Brodeur vs. Patrick Roy, and Kris Draper and Claude Lemieux. All were intense, memorable rivalries. But there’s another one that’s maybe a bit underrated, and possibly even forgotten, that’s about to get reignited after how the last few weeks have played out.

The rivalry between Ryan Reaves and Evander Kane is only going to heat up now that they’re both back in the Pacific Division. Reaves was recently traded to the San Jose Sharks from the Toronto Maple Leafs. As for Kane, he was shipped to his childhood team, the Vancouver Canucks, from the Edmonton Oilers.

This isn’t the first time they’ve been in the same division. Back when Reaves played with the Vegas Golden Knights and Kane was a member of the Sharks, things were at their worst.

Recently, on the Cam & Strick Podcast, Reaves talked about the history between him and Kane.

"It's real... I don't think that's ever something that's going to change. I think it started early in our careers when, you know, he just always said he'd beat me up. It's just what he'd always love to tell us, 'I'd k**l you.' But then we'd never fight unless there was a ref right there, and then he'd, you know, try and throw a punch. Then he was telling guys that he asked me to fight and I turned him down, and I was like, 'listen man, I don't think anybody's believing that when I've been chasing you around for six years and you won't fight me.'"

Kane spoke with Sharks reporter Sheng Peng back in 2019, after their one and only fight.

"For the so-called toughest guy in the league, I don't know if he landed a punch. At times, I thought I was fighting the Muffin Man. I didn't expect that. I expected more of a battle."

Kane, who loves the attention when he talks to the media, also added, “I was able to handle him. I think he lost a little bit of his allure in terms of toughness.”

Of course, he didn’t stop there. Kane loves the spotlight.

“For a guy who plays three and a half to four minutes a night, he sure does a lot of talking. I think he thinks it’s the WWE. He’s probably going to end up there pretty soon with the way his game looks. Another year left in his deal. I’m sure Vince McMahon will be giving him a call pretty soon.”

By now, everyone around the league knows Reaves isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He told reporters after the game, “I’ve got a buddy with a grandpa who’s going through the same thing,” Reaves deadpanned. “He can’t really see very well because he’s getting old. Get some glasses or something. I don’t know. If he gets suspended, it’s going to be hard for him to see up top [from the press box].”

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Now that they’re back in the same division, there’s a good chance we’ll get fireworks. Unlike most “feuds” in the NHL, these two actually don’t like each other. It’s going to be hard for them not to chirp, push, shove, and then go talk about each other in the media after the game.

Based on their past history, it wouldn’t be surprising if they don’t drop the gloves. Kane might play a tough, physical style, but he hasn’t been known to go toe-to-toe with the league’s toughest guys. So if the Sharks’ newly acquired enforcer Reaves tries to goad him into a fight, Kane will likely shy away and stick to talking.

Either way, even if things don’t come to blows, the games between the Sharks and Canucks are going to be must-watch.

At the very least, the post-game interviews will be fun to follow. As of now, there’s no schedule released, but it comes out on Wednesday, July 16. We’ll be keeping you posted on when these two teams first square off.

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