Training camp and the preseason are finally over as the San Jose Sharks take on the Vegas Golden Knights in game one of the season on Thursday.
Ryan Reaves will make his Sharks debut against his former team tonight, something he’s excited about. Reaves was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade that sent Henry Thrun the other way.
“‘I’m just excited to get back on the sheet with the boys, and excited to prove that I still belong in this league,” Reaves exclusively told SHD. “It’s a little different than most [opening nights]. I think last year the season didn’t go as I planned, and definitely didn’t finish as I wanted it to. Just getting back out there and proving myself.”
Reaves will play on the Sharks’ fourth line with Adam Gaudette and Barclay Goodrow. Emotions will be high in two ways for Reaves due to the opponent. Reaves’ play during his time on the Golden Knights often intensified the rivalry between the San Jose Sharks and the VGK rivalry further along.
With the Sharks going through a rebuild, some of the intensity of the rivalry has died down, but Reaves wants to change that.
“I wouldn’t mind reigniting the rivalry,” Reaves said. “You never want to lose to your buddies, but at the same time, two points are two points. You want to get them no matter who you’re playing.”
But what does the Sharks winger mean by “reignite the rivalry?”
“It was always high-intensity games. When both teams are really good, they were physical, high scoring, [and] close every time,” Reaves explained. “There just seemed to be bad blood all the time. Games ended in scrums. Shifts ended in scrums. Those are the fun games. Whether it becomes a rivalry again or not, this year it’s always fun playing those.”
Reaves told SHD that feeding off the SAP Center crowd will be key to a Sharks victory tonight.
“You’ve got to play within your structure. I think you draw off the excitement of day one, the crowd buzzing and getting through training camp,” Reaves said. “You can’t get overexcited. Sometimes you make early mistakes that bury you in a game. You just got to be excited but keep it reserved.”
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