Ryan Reaves has spent 15 years making his living as one of professional hockey’s most physically intimidating players. At 6’2″ and 225 pounds, he has carved out a career in the NHL doing a job most players won’t—being the enforcer who protects teammates and makes opponents think twice before taking liberties.
His role isn’t glamorous. He doesn’t score many goals or put up impressive point totals. But teams keep signing him season after season because he fills a specific need that exists in hockey despite the sport’s evolution toward speed and skill. His longevity in a league where careers average just a few years demonstrates that there’s still value in what he brings to the ice.
Profile Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ryan Reaves |
| Date of Birth | January 20, 1987 |
| Age | 38 years old (as of January 2026) |
| Birthplace | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian (holds dual US-Canadian citizenship) |
| Height | 6’2″ (188 cm) |
| Weight | 225 lbs (102 kg) |
| Position | Right Wing |
| Current Team | San Jose Sharks |
| NHL Debut | October 11, 2010 |
| Career Games Played | 950+ |
| Drafted | 156th overall, 2005 (St. Louis Blues) |
| Marital Status | Married to Alanna Forsyth (since 2014) |
| Children | Two (Kane and Kamilla) |
Early Life and Family Background
Ryan was born on January 20, 1987, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Willard Reaves and Brenda Reaves. His father had an athletic background that strongly influenced the family—Willard played professional gridiron football as a running back in both the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and in the NFL for teams including the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins.
Growing up in a household where professional sports was a career rather than just entertainment shaped his understanding of what it takes to compete at elite levels. He has three siblings: a brother named Jordan Reaves, who also went into professional sports as a football player for the Edmonton Elks in the CFL, and two sisters named Renee Reaves and Regina Hays.
His mother Brenda has been described as his biggest supporter throughout his career, maintaining a close relationship with her son despite the physical nature of his profession. The family environment emphasized dedication, work ethic, and the mental toughness required to succeed in professional athletics.
Introduction to Ice Hockey
Ryan started playing hockey at five years old, typical for Canadian kids growing up in Winnipeg where hockey is woven into the culture. He also played football starting at age eight, following in his father’s footsteps and showing early athleticism across multiple sports.
As a youth, he played for the Winnipeg South Monarchs minor ice hockey team and competed in the 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in Canada. This early exposure to competitive hockey helped develop his skills and understanding of the game.
A knee injury during a hockey tournament changed his athletic path. He tore his posterior cruciate ligament, which ended his football aspirations. The injury occurred before his Western Hockey League draft year, forcing him to commit fully to hockey rather than splitting time between two sports. What seemed like a setback at the time ultimately clarified his athletic direction.
He continued playing hockey for St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, where he led his team to the 2004 McDonald’s Provincial High School Hockey Championship. His performance caught the attention of WHL scouts, and he was drafted 36th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2002 WHL bantam draft.
Professional NHL Career Journey
The St. Louis Blues selected him 156th overall in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft—late enough that many players drafted at that position never make the NHL. In May 2007, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blues, beginning his professional journey.
He spent time developing in the minor leagues with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) and Alaska Aces (ECHL), learning the professional game and building the physical presence that would define his NHL role. His NHL debut came on October 11, 2010, against the Anaheim Ducks, where he served 15 penalty minutes—immediately establishing his physical playing style.
He scored his first NHL goal on January 12, 2011, against the Ducks, but scoring was never going to be his primary function. Over seven seasons with St. Louis, he established himself as the team’s enforcer, protecting skilled players and bringing an intimidating physical presence.
On June 23, 2017, the Blues traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played one season adding physical depth to their lower lines. According to his official NHL profile, he was then traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on February 23, 2018, in a three-way deal also involving the Ottawa Senators.
With Vegas, he achieved one of his career highlights—scoring the series-winning goal over the Winnipeg Jets that sent the Golden Knights to the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. He also scored in Game 1 of the Finals, though Washington ultimately won the championship. This playoff run showed he could contribute offensively in crucial moments.
His career continued with stops at the New York Rangers (2021-2022), Minnesota Wild (2022-2023), and Toronto Maple Leafs (2023-2025). On July 10, 2025, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun, where he currently plays at age 38.
Playing Style, Physical Presence, and On-Ice Role
His playing style centers on physical intimidation and aggressive forechecking. He’s classified as an enforcer—a player whose primary job is protecting teammates, fighting when necessary, and making opponents uncomfortable. According to coverage on ESPN, he has accumulated over 1,100 penalty minutes throughout his career, reflecting the physical nature of his game.
He typically plays on the fourth line in limited minutes—often averaging under 10 minutes per game. His role isn’t about scoring or generating offense but about setting a physical tone and responding when opponents target skilled teammates. This role has become increasingly rare as the NHL has evolved toward faster, more skilled hockey.
His playing style has led to run-ins with the NHL Department of Player Safety. He has been suspended four times during his career for a total of eleven games and fined three additional times. These suspensions came for dangerous hits and on-ice incidents that crossed the line from physical play into actions deemed unsafe.
The most notable suspension occurred during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs when he received a match penalty and two-game suspension for an incident involving Colorado Avalanche’s Ryan Graves. More recently, on November 16, 2024, he was suspended five games for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.
Net Worth and Professional Earnings
Professional athlete earnings vary significantly based on contracts, bonuses, and off-ice income. The figures mentioned here are estimates based on publicly reported contract information and typical NHL earnings structures. Exact net worth is not officially disclosed.
Based on his 15-year NHL career and publicly reported contracts, his estimated net worth is in the range of $5-7 million. This wealth comes primarily from NHL salaries accumulated over more than a decade of professional play.
His most recent contract was a three-year deal worth $4.05 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs signed in July 2023, with an annual average salary of $1.35 million. This represents typical pay for a fourth-line physical player in today’s NHL—significantly less than star players earn but substantial income nonetheless.
Earlier in his career with Vegas, he signed a two-year contract worth $3.5 million in June 2020 and recorded a career-high nine goals and 20 points during the 2018-19 season. His career earnings from NHL contracts alone exceed $15 million before taxes and agent fees.
Beyond NHL salaries, he likely earns from endorsements and appearances, though these opportunities are more limited for role players compared to star athletes. He also owns property, including a home his family purchased in the gated Capistrano neighborhood in Summerlin, Las Vegas, in 2018.
Personal Life and Relationships
Ryan is married to Alanna Forsyth, whom he met in high school. They married on August 16, 2014, at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg, with 130 guests attending the ceremony. The wedding featured pink and gold colors, with the venue decorated with numerous candles creating what Alanna described as a cozy and romantic atmosphere.
Alanna graduated from Conestoga College with a degree in interior decoration and worked early in her career at Home Outfitters and later at Walmart Pharmacy. She currently focuses on being a stay-at-home mother to their two children while supporting her husband’s career.
The couple has two children: a son named Kane (now around 7-8 years old) and a daughter named Kamilla (now around 4-5 years old). He has spoken in interviews about how his children provide escape from the pressures of his profession. He particularly enjoys seeing them at games wearing his jersey and receiving videos from his wife of them cheering him on or singing goal celebration songs.
He holds both American and Canadian citizenship, reflecting his cross-border career and family connections. He has also publicly stated that he believes he is a descendant of Bass Reeves, a former slave who became an early Black deputy U.S. marshal, though detailed genealogical confirmation hasn’t been widely documented.
The family maintains relative privacy despite his public career, with Alanna keeping her social media accounts private and limiting public exposure of their children. This boundary allows them to maintain normal family life despite the scrutiny that comes with professional sports.
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