Ryan Reaves watched the San Jose Sharks’ morning skate from the bench in a hoodie on Monday, but his stall in the locker room is empty.
Ryan Reaves is on the #SJSharks bench during the skate. I’m sure the team appreciates his presence.
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) March 30, 2026
Reaves suffered an upper-body injury, believed to be a left hand or finger, during a fight against Philadelphia Flyers forward Garrett Wilson on March 21st.
Reaves would return to the game for a 13-second shift before remaining on the bench with the team but not playing. San Jose Sharks forward Barclay Goodrow stunned members of the media after he got emotional when talking about Reaves’ postgame.
Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky was asked if there is a belief that the Sharks veteran can return to the lineup before the end of the regular season. Reaves has been deemed week-to-week but has yet to be officially ruled out for the season. Warsofsky backed that up again on Monday.
“I would say it is too soon to say,” Warsofsky explained.
As for him watching the San Jose Sharks skate from the bench:
“He wanted to come on the bench and be part of it. That’s good. He’s going to be around,” Warsofsky said. “Another guy who knows what it takes this time of year. He’s been on long playoff runs. He knows what winning looks like, how you have to play the game this time of year, and he’s going to continue to voice that. The more voices we get to help our players understand that, the better we’re going to be in the long run.”
Warsofsky has called Reaves a 5th coach at times throughout the season.
It is unusual for a player’s stall to be empty if there is a chance for a return. Reaves stall no longer had any gear or a nameplate. Of the players on the roster, there is no need to clear out space for any injured player to return. For example, Ty Dellandrea has been out since Jan. 6, but his locker stall has remained the same.
There’s an open spot in the #SJSharks locker room where Ryan Reaves was slotted all season. Saw him in a hoodie today walk into the locker room area, but interesting his locker is empty
— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) March 30, 2026
As the season gets late into the year, there is a chance the Sharks sign a player from the NCAA or call up a prospect from the San Jose Barracuda. If that happens, Reaves’ locker could be used.
Reaves cannot be officially ruled out for the season, but a return feels unlikely with 11 games remaining.
