Reaves retires from NHL after 16 seasons, 962 video games

In a publish on his Instagram account, Reaves wrote a heartfelt message to the sport of hockey.

“It’s exhausting to place into phrases what you meant to me. What you imply to me.

“I had dreams of being an athlete. Football, hockey—it didn’t matter. I learned at a young age that I just wanted to lay people out. The physical part of sports was what I was always drawn to. I knew that’s what I wanted, but tell 10-year-old Reavo he was going to play in the NHL for 16 seasons? I don’t think he’d believe you.”

Selected by the St. Louis Blues within the fifth spherical (No. 156) of the 2005 NHL Draft, Reaves had 140 factors (66 objectives, 74 assists) in 962 regular-season video games for the Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs and Sharks and 9 factors (three objectives, six assists) in 113 Stanley Cup Playoff video games.

“It’s exhausting to make this League. It’s even more durable to remain in it. For every part I put into my 16 years, the sport gave me again x1,000.

“But sadly, Father Time stays undefeated. Every hit, each struggle, it’s taken its last toll on me. I really like this sport greater than nearly something on this world. It has taken me to locations I by no means thought I’d go and has launched me to folks I’ll cherish for the remainder of my life. The followers, the haters, the ups, the downs … I wouldn’t commerce it for something.

“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 spent seven of his 16 seasons with the Blues, accounting for 419 video games.

He had two objectives in 10 playoff video games in 2018, together with the tiebreaking purpose in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final in opposition to the Winnipeg Jets, when the Golden Knights misplaced to the Washington Capitals in 5 video games within the Stanley Cup Final.

As a part of his message, he additionally thanked those that have supported him all through his profession.

“Today, I retire from the game I’ve beloved since I used to be 5 years outdated. It was a hell of a trip. Thank you to everybody who supported me all through this journey. There are too many to single out, so that you’ll hear from me in some unspecified time in the future. I will not be on the ice anymore, however I do know I’ll all the time be near hockey in a method or one other. You can relaxation simple understanding the corners are a bit of safer in the present day.

“Mic drop, gloves drop. Reavo out.”