NHL Trade News: Maple Leafs trade Ryan Reaves to Sharks, acquire young defenseman Henry Thrun

The Ryan Reaves era in Toronto is officially over. The Maple Leafs traded the 38-year-old enforcer to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for 24-year-old defenseman Henry Thrun. The move frees up cap space and adds a younger blueliner with NHL experience, signaling Toronto's continued effort to balance financial flexibility and roster depth.The trade was confirmed Thursday evening, with Toronto sending Reaves and his $1.35 million contract to the Sharks and receiving Thrun, who carries a $1 million cap hit and is in the final year of his deal. The transaction saves the Maple Leafs $350,000 in cap space immediately and avoids a $200,000 buried penalty had Reaves been demoted to the AHL. According to PuckPedia, Toronto now has approximately $5.33 million in salary cap space available. Reaves' future in Toronto had been uncertain following a recent podcast appearance where he expressed his desire to reach the 1,000-game milestone before retiring. With only 35 games played last season and 84 total since joining the Leafs, Reaves currently sitting at 912 career games appeared to be on the outside of Toronto's competitive plans. The Maple Leafs trading Ryan Reaves to the Sharks is a strategic cap-saving move as Toronto adjusts its roster for the 2025 NHL season.Thrun, a fourth-round pick (101st overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft by Anaheim, brings promise. He played 60 games for San Jose last season, recording two goals and 10 assists while averaging 17:31 of ice time. In total, he has 119 NHL games under his belt with five goals and 20 assists. Notably, his first NHL goal came against the Maple Leafs on January 9, 2024.A standout at Harvard University, Thrun posted 63 points in 68 games during his final two seasons. Though he hasn't yet matched that offensive output in the NHL, he remains a solid developmental project. Toronto’s coaching staff may look to refine his game, especially with his size, vision, and puck-moving ability already evident.Also Read: Michael Pezzetta signs $1.625M deal with Maple Leafs, recalls tough fights with Ryan ReavesThis trade helps the Leafs financially while adding depth on defense—two key elements as they push forward with their Stanley Cup aspirations. Thrun will become a restricted free agent next offseason, giving Toronto team control moving forward.