Ryan Reaves offers ringing endorsement of Toronto Maple Leafs organization

They say time heals all wounds, and that appears to be true when it comes to Ryan Reaves and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Reaves, who announced his retirement nearly one month ago, spent two seasons with the Maple Leafs organization from 2023 to 2025. While his time in Toronto didn't go quite as he would've liked the former NHL enforcer is now looking back on his experience with the organization fondly.

The stint in Toronto was a frustrating one for Reaves, who was placed on waivers in March 2025 before eventually being traded to the San Jose Sharks the following offseason. The 39-year-old expressed frustration after his departure, believing he deserved more opportunities to contribute on the ice.

However, Reaves appears to have put those frustrations behind him.

During a recent appearance on The JD Bunkis Podcast, Reaves reflected on his time with the Maple Leafs and offered some particularly high praise for the organization, calling it the best of the seven NHL teams he played for.

"I enjoyed my time in Toronto. I didn’t have [the] best part of my career there for sure. There were a lot of ups and downs for me, but I think it was everything I expected," Reaves said.

While his on-ice role may not have lived up to his expectations, Reaves made it clear that his experience with the organization itself was a positive one.

"The [Leafs] treated you better than any team in the league. There’s a reason why wearing that jersey is so special, that’s because of how they treat you there," Reaves explained. "You have to earn the right to play there. It was cool. Throwing on the Original Six jersey and playing in front of those fans, it was fun."

Reaves also pointed to the level of support available to players in Toronto, marvelling about how the entire organization was willing to go above and beyond for all needs.

"Some teams have different budgets. You go to anybody in the Toronto organization and you need something, it’s not 'I’ll see if I can do it' or 'We don’t really do that here,' it’s 'Yeah, let me see how I can get it done,'" Reaves said.

"That was with every single thing in Toronto, whether it was a trainer, medical guy, staff that works upstairs. Whatever you wanted, you get there. That’s why they are a first-class organization."

Reaves' comments offer an interesting perspective on an organization that has faced plenty of scrutiny over the years, particularly given the pressure that comes with playing in Toronto. 

Although his Toronto tenure didn't end the way he would have liked, it's clear that the feared enforcer thoroughly enjoyed his stint with the organization.