On July 15, former Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves addressed the speculation surrounding his involvement in Mitch Marner’s recent move to the Vegas Golden Knights.
This week, speaking on the Leafs Morning Take podcast, Reaves offered a blunt and measured defense of his conversations with Marner leading up to the high-profile sign-and-trade.
Mitch Marner Trade Sparks Strong Defense From Ryan Reaves
Marner, who hit free agency earlier this offseason, officially joined Vegas in a deal that closed three weeks ago. The move stirred reactions across Toronto’s fanbase, especially after it was revealed that Marner had discussed Vegas with Reaves before making his decision.
This revelation led to accusations that Reaves may have swayed Marner’s choice, claims he now firmly refutes.
Reaves said the suggestion that he tried to recruit Marner out of Toronto is exaggerated and misleading. He clarified that Marner had approached him for an honest opinion about life in Las Vegas.
“I’m very close with Mitchie. I became very close with him over the years,” Reaves said. “He asked me my opinion about Vegas. I played there for four years. What do you want me to do? Do you want me to lie to him because I’m still technically signed with Toronto? But, that’s my boy. I’m not gonna steer him wrong.”
Given that Reaves spent four years playing for the Golden Knights and still lives there during the offseason, he felt he had valuable insight to offer.
“I love my time here. I enjoyed every second of it. I think it’s a great place to live. You have the weather, the city. It’s a little more toned down than Toronto in relation to the fans and how much pressure there is. I’m not gonna lie to him about that.”
Reaves also noted that he already knew Marner was likely on his way out of Toronto. He made it clear that he wasn’t pushing Marner toward a decision, nor was he acting against the Leafs’ interests.
“I wasn’t trying to draw him away from Toronto. I was just being honest to one of my boys,” he said. “I don’t really care what the people say about that. I wasn’t doing anything shady or trying to hurt the Toronto Maple Leafs. I was just being a friend to Mitch.”
The timing of Reaves’ departure added fuel to the rumors. Just one day after appearing on a podcast where he discussed Marner and the pressure of playing in Toronto, the veteran enforcer was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun.
Despite the coincidence, Reaves said the deal had been in motion for some time. Having played just 35 games for Toronto last season and spending time with the AHL’s Marlies, he had reportedly asked for a change of scenery.
Mitch Marner’s New Chapter in Vegas
Marner, 27, signed an eight-year, $96 million deal with the Golden Knights in a move that officially ended his nine-season tenure in Toronto. Drafted fourth overall in 2015, Marner leaves as one of the franchise’s top scorers, with 741 points in 657 games.
Though the move was met with mixed reactions, the Maple Leafs appear committed to turning the page.
Reaves’ comments highlight just how interconnected personal relationships can be in shaping NHL moves, especially when players are navigating free agency.
As Reaves prepares for a fresh start in San Jose and Marner gets ready for the bright lights of Vegas, both seem focused on their next steps. And while the noise around their off-ice conversation lingers, Reaves’ message was clear: he was just doing right by a friend.
