Leafs' Ryan Reaves expresses his extreme dislike for Evander Kane for being all talk and no action

Ryan Reaves and Evander Kane are known as two strong rivals on the ice. Their rivalry originated when Kane was with the San Jose Sharks and Reaves played for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Both known as tough enforcers who thrive on physical play, they have a heated rivalry fueled by intense on-ice clashes and verbal exchanges. On a recent episode of the Cam and Strick podcast, Reaves expressed strong dislike for Kane, describing him as all talk and no action.

"It's real. I don't think that's ever something that's going to change," Reaves saud when asked about his individual rivalry with Kane.

Reaves stated that their conflict is genuine and unlikely to resolve. He also mentioned that Kane spread false claims about challenging him to fights that Reaves allegedly declined.

(1:31 onwards)

"He chirps too much. I think it started early in our career when he always said he'd beat me up. That was what he always loved to tell me. "I would kill you. I would kill you." But then would never fight unless there was a ref right there," Reaves added.

Ryan Reaves and Evander Kane's most prominent on-ice clash occurred during Game 3 of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs first-round series between the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks.

They dropped the gloves in a heavyweight fight, with Reaves appearing to dominate the bout.

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Ryan Reaves and Evander Kane's total career fights

According to HockeyFights.com, Reaves has recorded 79 career fights. This includes 10 fights during his time with the Vegas Golden Knights and additional bouts with teams like the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Meanwhile, Evander Kane has participated in 29 career fights, with notable bouts during his tenure with the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers. He also dropped the gloves in the colors of the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers.

While Kane is known for his physical play and willingness to engage, his fight total is significantly lower than Ryan Reaves', reflecting his primary role as a goal-scoring forward rather than a dedicated enforcer.

Also Read: Oilers forward makes feelings known about Evander Kane and other players' exit after back-to-back Stanley Cup losses

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta