What happened: Ryan Reaves has retired from hockey, ending an NHL career that reached 962 games. He built much of that run on a bruising style and a willingness to drop the gloves.

Why it matters: His exit removes a veteran enforcer from the player pool ahead of the upcoming NHL season. It also closes the career of a player type that has become less common as teams keep prioritizing pace and skill.

What to watch: The next marker will be any formal tributes or additional retirement remarks as camps open around the league.