They gave me an opportunity to finish that contract and play another year at the age I’m at. I had a lot of fun. I’ve never been in a situation like this, where a team is kind of coming out of a rebuild, but I had a blast doing it.

There’s a lot of talent here, a lot of good luck, good young players, a lot of good veterans, great season guys.Reaves on how close the group was this season:Very close. One of the closer ones I’ve been part of. I think when you have that many young—sorry, that many new guys coming in, I think everybody just kind of can come and be themselves, and you have the right guys leading the charge, I think.

It was a very close group, it was a lot of fun.Reaves on Macklin’s growth inside the room:I mean, his leadership to me, is on the ice. He plays the right way in all three zones. He plays harder than most players in this league.

For a player at his age, that’s pretty rare. To me, his leadership starts on the ice, starts in practice. The way he practices, staying out late, shooting, being out there early, working on this thing.

He’s going to be a good leader in this league.Reaves, on how the chemistry was built in the San Jose Sharks room this year:Well, it’s not just one person, it’s just everybody buying into loving each other on and off the ice. When you really like each other off the ice, it starts translating on ice—when you have fun off the ice, you have fun on the ice. I think it takes 25 guys to create that, and it takes from the coaching staff all the way up to the GM to start that.

Then obviously, the players got to grab a hold of it. It’s not just one guy.Reaves, on Barclay Goodrow crying about Reaves after the Mar. 21 game:I mean, I think that was coming out a lot from me. I was a little emotional after that.

I didn’t know how the rest of my career was going to play out. I knew the season was probably over for me, unless we made a good run. Goody’s a really good friend of mine.

He’s been a good friend, me and him. We did everything in New York together, and we seem to do everything together in San Jose. Our families are very close.

It was a touching moment for me, for sure. I love that guy.Reaves, on bridging the gap between the veterans and the younger players:Dumbing it down a little bit, I think. Stoopin’ to their level.

I’m not as mature as you guys think I am, I like to goof around a lot, so just kind of enjoying the stuff they enjoy, trying to get in on some of the stupid stuff they say. I think you just have to try and enjoy what they’re doing.Reaves, on whether the culture came from fighting for a common goal:I mean, I think if you’re gonna make a run and you’re really gonna change the culture of something, everybody’s got to be accepted for who they are. You can’t just look at one guy and be like, “Yeah, he’s kind of weird, you know, shove him to the side.” I think everybody’s got to play a role somewhere on the team, and everybody’s got to really embrace every role that’s on there.

I think that’s starting here.Reaves, on the most fun thing he did with the team off the ice this season:For me, the Book of Mormon. That was a highlight for me, just watching the boys laugh. I think I was actually sitting next to Mack and Smitty, and they were having a good time, so I enjoyed that.Reaves, on Zack Ostapchuk:I mean, a lot.

When he came here, the stuff he did for this team, he was playing a heavy game, very good on the kill. His speed, his physicality from when he came here earlier in the season to the last couple months, I think you guys saw as much as I did how much he really started growing into that role. You need depth players like that.

He’s good in the face-off. He’s going to be a big part of this team, for sure.Reaves, on how the desire to win the Cup factors into his decision to continue playing:Well, I’ve made it clear that this is where I want to be first. 1,000 games will be nice, but with a little bit of tweaking, I think this is a Stanley Cup team as well. I would rather get the Stanley Cup.

I think everybody, every kid, grows up looking for a Stanley Cup before they even think about 1,000 games. To get both would be even better. Like I said, I loved my time here, I hope it works out to come back. I guess we’ll find out soon.Reaves, on whether it’s possible the San Jose Sharks are a