He wasn't the highest scorer. Not even close. If you look at the stat sheet from the mid-2010s, you’ll see a guy who hovered around four or five goals a season, maybe ten points if the wind was blowing the right way. But if you ask anyone who sat in the nosebleeds at Scottrade Center (now Enterprise Center) during that stretch, they’ll tell you the same thing: Ryan Reaves was the heartbeat of the St. Louis Blues.
It’s weird, right? In an era where "enforcers" were supposed to be extinct, Reaves became a local folk hero. He wasn't just a guy who dropped the gloves; he was a tactical weapon used by Ken Hitchcock to tilt the ice.
He played 419 games in a Blues sweater. That’s a massive chunk of a career. When he was traded to Pittsburgh in 2017, it felt like a death in the family for some fans. Even now, with Reaves bouncing around the league from Vegas to New York to Minnesota and Toronto, the Ryan Reaves St. Louis Blues connection remains one of the strongest "former player" bonds in the NHL.
The Making of a Heavyweight in the Lou
Ryan Reaves didn't just show up as a finished product. He was a fifth-round pick in 2005. Most fifth-rounders never see the light of day in the NHL. He had to grind through Peoria in the AHL, proving he was more than just a pair of fists.
When he finally stuck with the big club in 2010, the NHL was changing. The "goon" was dying. To survive, you had to be able to skate. You had to be able to forecheck without taking a dumb penalty every other shift. Reaves figured out the balance. He became the "Grim Reaper," a nickname that stuck because, honestly, who else was going to challenge him?
I remember watching him against the Blackhawks. Those rivalry games were absolute wars. Reaves didn't just hit people; he moved them. He'd catch a defenseman like Duncan Keith or Brent Seabrook behind the net, and you could almost hear the collective "oof" from the crowd. It changed the energy of the building.
That Famous Blow-Kiss
You can't talk about Reaves in St. Louis without mentioning the 2015-16 playoffs. Specifically, the blow-kiss to the Dallas Stars bench.
It was Game 7 of the second round. The Blues were absolutely dismantling the Stars. Reaves got into it with some guys near the bench, and as he was being led away, he just leaned over and blew a kiss. It was peak Reaves—arrogant, hilarious, and completely in control of the emotional temperature of the game. That moment is immortalized in Blues history. It captured the swagger of a team that finally felt like it could bully its way to a deep run.
Why the Reaves St. Louis Blues Trade Still Stings
June 23, 2017. Draft night.
📖 Related: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
The Blues traded Reaves and a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Oskar Sundqvist and a first-round pick (which became Klim Kostin).
On paper? Doug Armstrong won that trade. He got a first-round asset and a versatile center in Sundqvist who would eventually become a massive part of the 2019 Stanley Cup run. But emotionally? It was a gut punch.
Fans loved Reaves because he represented the identity of "Heavy Hockey." He was the protector of Vladimir Tarasenko. He was the guy who made sure nobody took liberties with Jaden Schwartz or Alex Steen. When he left, there was this genuine fear that the Blues would become "soft."
It’s funny looking back. The Blues actually got better, but the personality of the locker room changed. Reaves was the DJ. He was the loud mouth. He was the guy who kept everyone loose. You can’t replace that with "advanced analytics."
The "Reaves Effect" on the Fourth Line
People underestimate how good that fourth line was. Whether it was Reaves with Maxim Lapierre, Chris Porter, or Scottie Upshall, they were a nightmare to play against.
- They started almost every shift in the defensive zone.
- They finished every shift in the offensive zone.
- They forced turnovers simply by existing.
- They drew penalties from frustrated opponents.
Reaves was the anchor. He understood that his job wasn't to score—it was to make the other team want to go home. He used his 225-pound frame like a wrecking ball. But he was also a surprisingly good skater for his size. You don’t stay in the league for 15+ years if you’re just a statue.
The Evolution of the Enforcer
The Ryan Reaves St. Louis Blues era was effectively the last stand for the traditional heavyweight enforcer who actually contributed to winning hockey.
If you look at the guys he fought—Milan Lucic, Brian McGrattan, John Scott—those were the titans of the era. Reaves rarely lost. But more importantly, he rarely took a "bad" fight. He fought when the team needed a spark or when a teammate got hit late.
👉 See also: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
He once said in an interview that he viewed his role as a "security guard." If you play by the rules, you’re fine. If you don't, you have to deal with him. That clarity of purpose is why he was so respected in the locker room.
Honestly, the league is safer now, and that’s a good thing. We don’t want guys getting concussions every night. But there’s a part of every Blues fan that misses the roar of the crowd when Reaves would hop over the boards after a whistle. It was a specific kind of electricity that hasn't really been duplicated since.
Beyond the Ice: The Personality
St. Louis is a baseball town first, but they love "blue-collar" hockey players. Reaves fit the mold perfectly.
He was active in the community. He started his own brewing company (7Five Brewing). He was genuinely funny in post-game scrums. While some players give the standard "get pucks deep, play our game" answers, Reaves would actually say something worth listening to.
He embraced the city, and the city embraced him back. Even after he left, he’d get a standing ovation every time he returned to St. Louis. That doesn't happen for every fourth-liner. It happens for the ones who leave a piece of themselves on the ice every night.
The Heavyweight Title
Is he the greatest fighter in Blues history?
That’s a tough debate. You have Bob Probert (briefly), Tony Twist, and Kelly Chase. Those guys were legendary. But Reaves played in a different era. He couldn't just fight; he had to play.
If you look at the "fights per 60 minutes" metrics, the numbers went down during his tenure, not because he was less aggressive, but because nobody wanted to fight him. He had "the look." Most players would just skate away. That’s the ultimate form of enforcements—preventing the fight before it even happens because the deterrent is too scary.
✨ Don't miss: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
Addressing the "Goon" Narrative
There’s a lot of talk about how Reaves is a "dinosaur." Critics say he doesn't belong in the modern game.
But here’s the thing: Every coach he’s ever had loves him. Hitchcock loved him. Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh wanted him. Gerard Gallant in Vegas made him a cornerstone of that inaugural team.
The Ryan Reaves St. Louis Blues years proved that you can be a physical force without being a liability. He was rarely a "minus" player. He knew his limits. He didn't try to be a playmaker; he tried to be a disruptor.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you’re a fan looking to celebrate the Reaves era, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding his legacy and memorabilia.
- Jersey Value: Authentic Ryan Reaves Blues jerseys (with the Reebok branding from that era) are becoming harder to find. If you have one, hold onto it. They represent a specific "Heavy Blues" identity that fans are nostalgic for.
- Follow the Brew: 7Five Brewing Co. is still a thing. If you want to support Reaves’ post-hockey ventures, that’s the way to do it. It’s a direct link to his personality outside of the rink.
- Video Archives: If you want to see what "peak" Reaves looked like, search for his 2013-2015 highlights. That was when he was at his most physically dominant in a Blues uniform.
- The Sundqvist Connection: Next time you’re debating the trade, remember that without Reaves, the Blues likely don't get Oskar Sundqvist. Sunny was a massive part of the 2019 Cup. In a roundabout way, Reaves helped St. Louis win that trophy by being an asset valuable enough to net a championship-caliber return.
The story of the St. Louis Blues in the 2010s is incomplete without Ryan Reaves. He wasn't the star, but he was the soul. He proved that even in a rapidly changing sport, there is always room for a guy who works hard, sticks up for his friends, and occasionally blows a kiss to the opposing bench.
To truly understand his impact, look at how the Blues identity shifted after his departure. They moved toward a more speed-oriented game, but they always kept a bit of that "Reaves" DNA in their bottom six. They learned that while you need skill to win, you need a certain amount of grit to survive the playoffs.
Reaves didn't just play for the Blues; he defined a generation of Blues hockey. Whether he was terrifying defensemen or making the locker room laugh, he was exactly what the city needed at the time. And that's why, years later, his name still carries so much weight in St. Louis. No matter where he plays, he’ll always be a Blue at heart.
The next step for fans is to keep an eye on the alumni events. Reaves has made it clear he loves the city, and once his playing days are over, expect him to be a frequent face at the Enterprise Center. He’s earned his spot in the rafters of the city’s heart, if not the actual ceiling of the arena.
Key Takeaways:
- Reaves played over 400 games for the Blues, establishing a long-term legacy.
- His trade to Pittsburgh was a turning point for the franchise’s roster construction.
- He remains one of the most popular enforcers in the history of the NHL due to his personality and effectiveness.
- His "deterrent" factor was his greatest contribution to the team's safety and confidence.
The impact of a player like Reaves isn't measured in goals. It's measured in the space he creates for his teammates and the memories he leaves with the fans. In St. Louis, those memories are iron-clad.