The Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks have completed a notable player exchange. On July 10, 2025, the Leafs announced they have traded veteran forward Ryan Reaves to the Sharks in return for defenseman Henry Thrun. This transaction sees a physical, experienced forward head west, while a younger blueliner joins the Toronto ranks, marking a clear difference in player profiles changing hands.
Henry Thrun, a 24-year-old defenseman, arrives in Toronto after spending last season with the Sharks. Thrun played 60 games for San Jose in the 2024-25 campaign, recording 12 points, including two goals, and averaged over 17 minutes of ice time per contest. Drafted originally by Anaheim in 2019, Thrun was acquired by San Jose in 2023 in a trade involving a third-round pick. He has appeared in 119 career NHL games to date, tallying five goals and 25 points. For the Maple Leafs, this move appears calibrated to add depth and relative youth to their defensive corps, securing a player with recent NHL experience.
Heading to San Jose is 38-year-old forward Ryan Reaves. Known primarily throughout his lengthy NHL career for his physical style and presence rather than offensive output, Reaves played 35 games for the Maple Leafs in the 2024-25 season, registering two assists. He spent a total of 84 games over two seasons in Toronto. Sharks General Manager Mike Grier expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating, “He will bring energy, personality, physical play and toughness to our group. He has been a part of many winning teams, and I witnessed firsthand the positive impact he can bring to a group…” While his scoring statistics are modest – his career high is 20 points in 81 games back in 2018-19 – his value, according to the Sharks` front office, lies squarely in intangible qualities like veteran leadership and on-ice deterrence. It`s a notable swap of a developing defenseman for a significantly older forward whose impact is measured in hits and presence rather than typical offensive production metrics.
This trade represents differing objectives for the two clubs at this juncture. Toronto gains a younger defenseman with potential for development and contribution on the backend. San Jose acquires a seasoned veteran whose primary role is expected to be off the score sheet, focusing instead on enhancing team toughness and providing a strong locker room presence – perhaps a deliberate statement on the type of culture the Sharks aim to cultivate as they navigate their team trajectory.
The swap of Reaves for Thrun marks a distinct personnel change for both organizations, reflecting differing priorities and player philosophies as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow