Right-winger Ryan Reaves announced his retirement from the NHL Wednesday after a 16-season career that saw him become one of the league's most recognizable physical forwards. The 39-year-old broke the news via Instagram, bringing an end to a career that began with the St. Louis Blues in 2010.

Reaves was selected by St. Louis in the fifth round, No. 156 overall, of the 2005 NHL Draft. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native spent more than three seasons primarily in the American Hockey League with the Peoria Rivermen before earning his NHL opportunity. He debuted for the Blues during the 2010-11 season, recording two goals and two assists in 28 games while accumulating 78 penalty minutes and eight fights.

Across his NHL career, Reaves played 962 regular-season games for seven teams: the Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks. He finished with 66 goals, 74 assists and 140 points, along with 1,137 penalty minutes and 94 regular-season fights.

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Reaves spent seven seasons in St. Louis and appeared in 419 games for the Blues. He led the team in penalty minutes five times and recorded 48 fighting majors during his time there. He later moved through Pittsburgh, Vegas, New York, Minnesota, Toronto and San Jose. His best offensive season came with Vegas in 2018-19, when he compiled a career-high 20 points.

His postseason record included nine points, comprising three goals and six assists, in 113 Stanley Cup Playoff games. During the 2018 playoffs, he scored twice in 10 games, including the tiebreaking goal in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Winnipeg Jets.

Reaves played his final NHL season with the Sharks, appearing in 50 games and scoring three goals. His final game came March 21, 2026, against the Philadelphia Flyers. He was injured during the first period of San Jose's 4-1 loss after fighting Philadelphia's Garrett Wilson. Reaves took another shift but did not return to the ice afterward, remaining on the bench for the rest of the game.