On Thursday, the San Jose Sharks traded defenseman Henry Thrun to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right winger Ryan Reaves, as reported by Rogers Sportsnet. This trade marks a notable exchange between the two National Hockey League teams, involving players with contrasting roles and experience.
Henry Thrun’s Performance and Career Background
Henry Thrun, hailing from Southborough, Massachusetts, contributed two goals and 10 assists for a total of 12 points in 60 regular-season games during the 2024-25 season with the Sharks. His statistics also included 30 penalty minutes, 66 blocked shots, 43 hits, and 12 takeaways. Over three full seasons with San Jose, Thrun appeared in 119 NHL games, accumulating five goals and 20 assists, along with notable defensive stats such as 146 blocked shots and 73 hits. Despite these efforts, he recorded a plus-minus rating of -48 and 71 giveaways.
Originally drafted 101st overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Thrun was unable to secure a contract with the Ducks. Subsequently, the Sharks acquired him in a trade that sent a third-round pick to Anaheim in February 2023. Thrun also carries international experience, having won a gold medal with the United States at the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship held in Edmonton.
Ryan Reaves’ Experience and Role with the Maple Leafs
Ryan Reaves brought significant NHL experience to the Sharks with 912 regular-season games played across six franchises since 2010, including the Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, and Minnesota Wild. Known primarily for his physical style, Reaves tallied 3065 hits and 1000 penalty minutes over his career. However, his offensive production was limited in the 2024-25 season, logging only two assists in 35 games with the Maple Leafs.
Both of Reaves’s assists came during wins for Toronto: once on November 9, 2024, when he set up Conor Timmins for the opening goal against the Montreal Canadiens, and again on New Year’s Eve, providing the assist for Steven Lorentz’s game-winning goal versus the New York Islanders. During this season, Reaves recorded a minus-2 rating, 28 penalty minutes, and 103 hits, emphasizing his role as an enforcer on the ice.
Impact and Implications of the Trade
This player swap between the Sharks and Maple Leafs reflects a strategic adjustment for both teams, balancing youth and potential with veteran grit and toughness. For San Jose, acquiring Reaves introduces a physically imposing presence that could influence team dynamics and on-ice energy. Meanwhile, Toronto gains a young defenseman in Thrun, whose defensive contributions and potential upside could bolster their blue line depth moving forward.
The trade will be observed closely by fans and analysts alike to gauge how each player adapts to their new environment and the impact they will have in the remainder of the NHL season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Henry Thrun graduate from Harvard?
A. Once the Sharks’ season wrapped up, Thrun headed back to Harvard to complete his bachelor’s degree with majors in economics and psychology. He netted his first career goal on January 9, 2024. Unfortunately, it was the only goal for the Sharks during their 7–1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Q. How good is Henry Thrun?
A. He ranked fifth among defensemen for penalty kill ice time, spending 70 minutes and 21 seconds. Only the veteran players Mario Ferraro, Ceci, Jake Walman, and Rutta had more. Overall, Thrun was also fifth in total team ice time.