The Leafs have traded enforcer Ryan Reaves

This just in, the Toronto Maple Leafs have traded 38 year old forward Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for 24 year old defenseman Henry Thrun.

Reaves played just 35 games for the Leafs last season and didn't appear to factor into their plans moving forward. He has one year left on a three year deal that pays him $1.35 million per season. He'll join a Sharks team that is desperate for some veteran character both on and off the ice.

Just yesterday, Reaves spoke about the importance of hitting 1,000 career NHL games and it looks like he'll get an opportunity to play more in San Jose.

“I still want to play — I’m 83 games away from 1,000 right now, and I’d love to hold on for another two years, hit that mark, and ride into the sunset," Reaves said on the Cam and Strick Podcast. "I don’t think I’ve got more than two years left, but the dream is always the Stanley Cup. When I first came into the league, I remember telling my wife, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if I hit 100 games?’ Then it was 200, then 500 — and now I’m thinking maybe I chase 1,000. For a player who plays like me, that’d be a pretty cool accomplishment. So, Stanley Cup and 1,000 games — in that order.”

As for Thrun, he played 60 games for the Sharks this past season and is in the final year of a two year deal that pays him $1 million per season.

If Thrun ends up regularly playing for the Leafs this upcoming season then this is a homerun of a trade for Leafs GM Brad Treliving. If Thrun ends up playing out the entire season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, I still think this is a win of a trade for Treliving. Simply by removing Reaves and all of the bluster that he comes with from the Leafs' roster and not having to pay a price to offload him is a major steal, in my opinion.