But while enlarging his collection during those early days, Reid also enlarged upon his on-ice career, skating for three years with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL from 1981 to 1984. The Boston Bruins were sufficiently impressed with his performance to pick him up in the 1982 Entry Draft. Two seasons later, he saw his first action with the club, an event that launched a pattern of shuttling between Hershey, Moncton, Maine, and the parent Bruins. The rocky ride went on for four seasons when the Bruins decided not to renew his contract. Reid looked destined to remain a career minor-leaguer.

With Toronto, Reid was thrown onto a checking line with Dave Hannan and Lou Franceschetti. The trio clicked with their less-than-fancy, dump-and-charge style of play. Reid looked very much at home until his contract expired in 1991. It then looked like history repeating itself when Reid signed again with the Boston Bruins who, during the course of the 1991-92 season, sent him back down for a return visit with the Maine Mariners of the AHL. But this time the stay was short and Reid resumed his NHL gig for good.

He lasted one more season in Boston and then signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars who welcomed his tenacious defensive play and streak scoring outbursts, especially the odd cluster of shorthanded goals. In 1998-99, all of Reid's patience and hard work paid off as his Stars won their first and only Stanley Cup.

The following year, life only got better as he signed with the Colorado Avalanche, another dominant team of the NHL. And as usual, Reid plugged right into the club's defensive system, making himself his usual useful self. At the close of the 2000-2001 campaign, Reid was awarded his second Stanley Cup ring.