Golden Knights trade fan favorite Ryan Reaves to Rangers for draft pick

By Justin Emerson

Thursday, July 29, 2021 | 7:25 p.m.

For the second time this week, the Golden Knights have traded away a fan favorite.

Vegas sent forward Ryan Reaves to the New York Rangers on Thursday night, picking up a third-round pick in next year’s draft.

“His toughness, character and unique skill set will be missed here at the Golden Knights, and we wish him and his family all the best moving forward,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who coached Reaves in juniors, said in a statement. “I am proud of the man he has become.”

The move has a major effect on the Golden Knights’ salary cap, as it puts them within striking distance. Reaves carried a $1.75 million cap hit in the final year of his contract, and moving him puts Vegas just $37,439 over the cap, according to CapFriendly. Vegas will likely be able finesse its way around such a minimal amount without subtracting another major player from the roster.

It’s clear Reaves fell out of favor with the Golden Knights, and he was a healthy scratch four times in the postseason. He recorded one assist in 12 postseason games after five points in 37 regular season games.

But before that, Reaves was a staple on the fourth line and beloved by the fans for his physical play and outspoken personality. He arrived in Vegas at the 2018 trade deadline and famously scored the game-winning and series-clinching goal in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against Winnipeg later that year.

Reaves finishes his Golden Knights tenure having played 209 games across four years. He had 18 goals and 42 points.