What About Bob...? Ryan Key to Sens Success

The Sens surprised well, damn near everyone last season, with an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. It took a heartbreaking Game 7 double overtime loss to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins to stall this magical run. As much as Guy Boucher’s ‘The System’ was a rallying cry for the Sens faithful, and a key part of their success, (much to the malign of many in the hockey world)  last I checked you still need to outscore your opponent to win. A huge part of their run was Bobby Ryan returning to form after a lacklustre regular season. If the Senators want to again find themselves among the East’s elite, they’ll need Ryan to produce at his highest level.

THE TRADE:

With Daniel Alfreddson’s unexpected departure for Detroit, (on July 5th 2013) Sens GM Bryan Murray had to act fast. The Flash rarely moves quicker. Later that same day he filled this void by acquiring Bobby Ryan, whom he had long coveted, from Anaheim in exchange for young forwards Jacob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen and  a 2014 1^st round draft pick (which they used to acquire Nick Ritchie). Silvferberg has been solid for the Ducks while Ritchie has yet to live up to the billing. Noesen bounced back and forth between the Ducks and the AHL, eventually being claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils.  

Ryan certainly wasn’t expected to replace Alfredsson, at least not in a leadership capacity, though to be fair, few could. He was however, going to be counted on to carry the load offensively after four 30 goal seasons with the Ducks. (Granted even I may be able to put up 7 riding shotgun with Getzlaf and Perry, but we digress.) He’s yet to crack that number with the Sens (he had 23 his first season) and at his 7 million dollar price-tag, patience is waning. Ryan himself joke that the Vegas Golden Knights wouldn’t pick up his contract should he be exposed in the expansion draft. (They didn’t) 7 million doesn’t get you what it used to…

After just 13 goals and 25 points in 62 games last regular season let’s just say there was something left to be desired, both by the organisation and, to be fair, Ryan himself. This is a player who holds himself to a higher standard and does have a level of intensity to his game. (Brian Burke’s opinion not withstanding …) However, it was the intermittent flashes of it that grew so frustrating. At times he’d go on a run for a few games and look like the elite top line winger the Sens had envisioned. Then he’d disappear for what felt like an eternity. Goal scorers are by nature a streaky bunch but he was colder than an Ottawa winter. The Sens aren’t exactly a high flying offensive unit to begin with, particularly with Clarke MacArthur out, (That Spezza trade just keeps paying dividends...) so when top guys go long stretches without producing it can get ugly in a hurry.

FRESH START:

The great thing about any new season is the opportunity to start over. The playoffs are no different. You don’t get within a goal of the Stanley Cup Final without contributions from top players and Ryan stepped up big time in the post season, showcasing the sort of game Sens fans had anticipated since his arrival. He tallied 6 goals and his 15 points in 19 playoff games lead all Senators forwards (Demi God Erik Karlsson was not to be upstaged) resulting in an Eastern Conference Final birth along with a collective “Where the hell was that all year?!” from Sens nation. As a result Ryan came into this season with a renewed confidence, a better mental state after dealing with some personal issues and a commitment to be the player he knows he can be.

The old adage actions speak louder than words is never more true than in the world of professional sports and getting off to a quick start this season has placated the fan-base (for now). He’s seemingly found some chemistry with Derek Brassard and Mark Stone. Their line has been solid through the first six games, though we’ll not jump to nickname status just yet. Now, granted, while four points through six games isn’t exactly going to generate any Art Ross buzz, when you consider last seasons totals, it’s a welcomed sight. Ryan’s career average is 0.70 PPG so if he can get back anywhere close to that, the Sens should be in a position to contend for (at the very least) a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

What About Bob...

2007 seems a lifetime ago...The Ottawa Senators have been in rebuild mode the past few seasons and one of the pieces acquired in the summer of 2013 to help set the franchise moving in the right direction was Bobby  Ryan. A big, powerful winger with goal scoring ability. However, from the get go, and through no fault of his own, he had a monumental task in the capital. 

The Curious Case of Bobby Ryan thus begun and he was immediately tagged with the thankless task of replacing legendary captain Daniel Alfredsson. Timing is everything...The trade seemed like a knee jerk reaction to Alfredsson spurning the only NHL franchise he'd ever known and signing with the Detroit Red Wings in an effort to ride off into the sunset a Cup champion (How often does that ever really work out?) but the fact is Ottawa had long coveted Ryan and his numbers and potential were huge reasons why. Seemed a no brainer really. A young guy theoretically coming into his prime with goal scoring ability was something the Sens desperately needed. And while comparing the two isn't fair, this is a hockey market that demands results and he was expected to shoulder this load. Sentiment didn't improve when Ryan battled injury his fist season here playing in only 70 games as the Sens missed the playoffs.

Ryan had tallied four straight thirty plus goal seasons in Anaheim: 2008-09 to 2011-12. He's yet to have one with the Sens. And while it's not as though he's be awful in red, he hasn't take the step forward they needed him to. In fact some would say he's regressed. His number are respectable, earning an all star nod in 2015, but they're a far cry from what you'd expect of someone with his $7+ million dollar a year pricetag. He's battled several injuries and to his credit played though them but his lack of consistency has been a talking point across Sens country.

Kyle Turris was banged up much of last season with a sprained ankle and Clarke MacArthur missed basically all of it with a concussion and it reflected in the teams play across the board. Lines were shuffled, a number of guys were put in positions they hadn't been before and Ryan was stuck trying to find his way along with many others. It was a down year for the organization and his numbers reflected that. Turris, when healthy is a solid player and has shown this season in particular how valuable he is, looking like the number three over all pick he was, but, with all due respect, he's not Ryan Getzlaf. Bobby Ryan put up most of his stellar numbers riding shot gun with the Ducks dynamic duo of Getzlaf and Corey Perry who have each done just about everything you can when it comes to winning at this and any other level you can think of (mini-sticks included). Ryan seemed to have chemistry with Turris and MacArthur when the line was together and healthy his first few years in Ottawa so perhaps with MacArthur set to return from injury in the near future, they can recapture that if and when they're reunited. However, the Sens now have a lot more depth up front. With the emergence of young players like Ryan Dzingle, Mark Stone, Curtis Lazar, the acquisition of  Derek Brassard in the off season and leading goal scorer Mike Hoffman being signed to a new contract the top six is filling up fast. The Sens are a, lets call them cap conscious, organization and carrying that hefty contract with minimal results isn't going to sit well with owner Eugene Melnyk.

Others have thrown their two sense in as well including professional grump Brian Burke who suggested that intensity was an issue in leaving Ryan off the 2014 US Olympic roster. (How'd that work out by the way?) At the time it seemed liked he was slighted but with his struggles of late, this type of questioning only lends further fuel to the fire.

The Sens have him under contract until the 2021-22 season and with a cap hit of $7.25 million through the remainder of it it's not a contract that would be easily moved off the books. And that's not to say the Sens ought to be desperate to shop him either. He seems like a decent guy who's well liked by his teammates. Perhaps fans just have to accept this is who he is. A decent player who will put up decent numbers. He certainly wouldn't be the first guy to get overpaid coming out of Anaheim (ie: Matt Beleskey) but what irks fans is the sens that there's more there. Potential, the ultimate double edged sword. The answer likely has to come from Ryan himself or in coach Guy Boucher getting him going in the right direction. And he'd better do so quickly. Ryan has battled a hand injury this season and has played on 22 games thus far but only has 8 point to show for it. (Even the much maligned Dion Phaneuf has 10) That's not a pace the Sens or he can afford to have continue. The fact that the team is off to a stellar start and playing much better in their own end of the ice has overshadowed a lot of his struggles and no doubt getting healthy is the first step, as like many goal scorers Ryan has proven himself to be streaky and when he gets hot can go on a tear but this has be far to uncommon since his acquisition. With winter now settled in up north, let's hope it's not a case of Groundhog Day all over again...

California Dreamin'

The Anaheim Ducks have signed their two biggest pending free agents in Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf in the past few weeks for roughly $17 a year combined. Speaking after he signed his deal Perry said he had talked to Getzlaf shortly after he had signed his and his desire for Perry to stick around was a big reason he chose to stay in California. There were a lot of rumors that he would test free agency since he had gone this long without signing as well as the fact that he may want to play closer to home in Ontario. The Ducks franchise had to step up and spend a lot of money on their stars but moving forward could they afford not to? The team has an impressive crop of young talent coming along and look to be a contender for the next few years at least. Money is obviously always a huge consideration when moving forward but you need cornerstone players like this to anchor your franchise, provide leadership as well as interest perspective free agents to your team.

Perry is from the Peterborough area and there was a lot of talk that he would possibly sign with the Leafs, or if the wishes of one crazy blogger (not saying, just saying) came true perhaps Ottawa to be closer to family and friends. This is noble sentiment and I'm sure few people would blame him for doing so. You need only look at the example of Ryan Suter and Zack Parise signing with the Minnesota Wild to see that it does happen. But in the bigger picture, would this have been a good move? Ottawa is certainly a team with a lot of talent and moving forward with a player like Perry they would likely be a contender in a year or two. There is also the previous relationship with Bryan Murray the GM who drafter him. Toronto is on the other end of the scale. Sure he knew Randy Carlyle and won a Stanley Cup with him but after his exodus from Anaheim last year who knows how Perry feels and the Leafs are certainly a ways away from being a contender. It was said that sometimes that grass isn't always greener and if you look at what Anaheim is doing this year and has the potential to do moving forward it is little wonder he'd want to stay where he is.