Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Henry Thrun met with reporters Monday afternoon over Zoom, where he revealed he will be wearing No. 3.
Henry Thrun said he was watching Top Gun when he learned of his trade to the Leafs.
“It was a nice way for that phone call to wrap up, knowing that I’m going to a city like Toronto.”
— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) July 14, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Thrun was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Ryan Reaves on July 10. The 24-year-old defenceman told reporters he learned of the trade while watching Top Gun, although it was never specified whether he was watching the original, or Top Gun: Maverick.
“It was a total surprise. I was just watching a movie, watching Top Gun. I got a call from (Sharks general manager) Mike Grier. He broke the news to me, so it was definitely surprising. When he told me where I was traded, it was definitely a nice way for that phone call to wrap up, knowing that I’m going to a city like Toronto. Just knowing the history and the success the team has had over the past couple of years, but obviously the end goal is still in sight. I know there’s more to push for, but it definitely was pretty exciting to know where I was going to end up.”
Thrun played 946:19 at 5-on-5 last season with the Sharks, where he posted a 38.7 percent share of the expected goals and a -23 rating via Natural Stat Trick. These poor metrics are partially a function of how awful the Sharks were defensively last year, and Thrun will be competing for a third-pair role, with Simon Benoit presumptively ahead of him on the depth chart.
“I think for me, an aspect of my game that probably hasn’t shined yet at the NHL level is my ability to move the puck. That was my calling card in junior and college. Playing in San Jose, I was very fortunate to get a chance to break in there and play a bunch of games and a lot of minutes. At times, it’s a little challenging to be put in positions to move the puck and be involved, and obviously there’s a lot of defending which I was able to get some experience with that.
“I’m excited to be a two-way defenceman. I think I’m reliable in most situations on the ice. I think that’s one of my best assets, being versatile, being used on special teams, being used up and down throughout the lineup. There’s a lot that I feel I want to show and improve.”
The Leafs Nation’s Jon Steitzer provided a profile of Thrun’s puck-moving ability and what to expect from his game, upon being acquired from the Sharks.
Thrun was asked why his tenure didn’t work out with the Sharks, and he pointed to his former club valuing players with some experience, where he eventually became the odd man out. The newest member of the Leafs is embracing a fresh start, and is keenly aware that his previous Bruins fandom will be completely put to rest, as he grew up idolizing Zdeno Chara.
It’s a new opportunity for Thrun to show off his puck-moving skills, while playing on a significantly better defensive team than the 2024-25 Sharks. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube preaches simplicity and a north-south style of play, which will be Thrun’s calling cards in trying to earn a constant spot in the team’s deep rotation on the blue line.