Jared Crozier: Saving Bobby Ryan

bobby ryan is a good guy and a positive in the dressing room.

But, he is not a good skater.

Players who are not good technical skaters dramatically fall off their game around age 30. It can only get worse.

bobby ryan is a good guy and a positive in the dressing room.

But, he is not a good skater.

Players who are not good technical skaters dramatically fall off their game around age 30. It can only get worse.
- spatso

But every season he's been here his point totals have improved???

I agree that he 100% has to come into camp in better shape but he had something like 42 points in 49 games this season and was the most consistent forward for ottawa the first 50GP.

I think he's a great piece to have on a young team but he has to hit the 60pt marker to fend off the critics. IMO he has been good not great since coming over but I don't understand some people POV's that say he's terrible. His defensive game has improved, he plays physical, but doesn't have the same finish around the net that he used to.

I like the guy and of course he doesn't do enough considering the money he earns, but this table is shocking. Thanks for sharing

How can a player like Ryan can go from numbers above 0.65 fall to below 0.45 in the last two months? That's a huge decrease and absolutely devastating since I expect us to be a close bubble team for the coming years.

Can you give garth advice on how to properly execute a pun? Please and thank you

I'm not sure if I want to laugh or cry at the possibility of a Brian Elliott-Ben Bishop cup final

I was okay with the Bobby Ryan trade. Not happy with the signing a year later, far too much term. On the other hand, the Dion Phaneuf trade appears to be an highly inspired deal that can only get a lot better for the Sens. He has had a very positive impact on Ceci. I really like the Ottawa D going into next year and Phaneuf as a #4 is a remarkably good fit.

I note that Phil Kessel is in the running for the Conn Smyth as he continues to be the driving force for what many say is the best line in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I think there are still a few good pieces on what remains of the Leaf carcass.

Nothing we can do but watch him get old. But seriously, this is going to be like watching your parents getting old. In the 2nd half Ryan could barely get through a 50 second shift and be involved all over the ice - he's just out of gas.

There's the speed and the conditioning which is far below par, but the lack is compete is what is inexcusable.

Exceptional blog title.

Everyone would like more from Ryan in the late season. Me included. A lot of people look at his contract and value. Unfortunately, his production under a UFA contract is sorta the norm now. That's just how it is.

Dorion interview today.

He's admitted that Hoffman hasn't gotten along with past two coaches.
- That was pretty obvious. I wonder if Boucher can get more out of him.

He's mentioned Colin White isn't going to be rushed.
-No shock there.

Mentioned Gabriel Gagne is physically immature.
- I mentioned that before. He's huge in height but weighs less than Karlsson. He will need to grow into his body.

Mentioned that it is 'unlikely' sens will make a big trade.
- I assumed as much.

Mentioned Randy Lee being worked hard because of small hockey ops.
- Organization needs to fill out those ranks.

All of interest I've noticed so far.

Good blog title. Not a fan of a blog based on the opinion of Shawn Simpson tho. However, there is something to be said about Ryan's play near the end of seasons. However, as mentioned, goal scorers are prone to slumps. His production overall is pretty much what we expected when we acquired him, it just comes earlier in the season. It would be nice to see him have a more consistent season and finish closer to 70 points.

I do think Ryan suffers from being the odd man out when it comes to line mates. He played the majority of the year with Zibby who also has trouble with consistency. I can't remember a heck of a lot of shifts with Hoffman on his other wing either. Which I find a bit unfortunate as Ryan is an underrated passer. Maybe better line mates would result in better opportunities.

Alas, slumps will always happen with guys of Ryan's calibre. He isn't a super star (like Karlsson). You kind of have to deal with that. It will be Boucher's responsibility to try and negate the slumps as much as possible.

Ryan was not the only forward who struggled to score at one point this season. Every forward had a slump at one time or another. Stone couldn't do squat after his suspension, Turris went ice clod before being shut down for the year, and Hoffman's pace of 90 points fell off severely two thirds into the year. Ryan's slumps are just more obvious because of the contract and name. And they always seem to happen at the end of the year, which is fresh in our memory.

I was okay with the Bobby Ryan trade. Not happy with the signing a year later, far too much term. On the other hand, the Dion Phaneuf trade appears to be an highly inspired deal that can only get a lot better for the Sens. He has had a very positive impact on Ceci. I really like the Ottawa D going into next year and Phaneuf as a #4 is a remarkably good fit.

I note that Phil Kessel is in the running for the Conn Smyth as he continues to be the driving force for what many say is the best line in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I think there are still a few good pieces on what remains of the Leaf carcass.
- spatso

His contract hurts the Sens moving forward. I am not sure how you could possibly argue otherwise. I wasn't a fan when it was first announced and still have major concerns about him as a player. I think he could be a factor in strenghthening Ottawa's back end which would help ice a more balanced team. Thats the positive. The negatives tho far outweigh the positives IMO. I am just hoping that with more sheltered minutes and playing away from teams top lines he's able to be a dependable T4D

His contract hurts the Sens moving forward. I am not sure how you could possibly argue otherwise. I wasn't a fan when it was first announced and still have major concerns about him as a player. I think he could be a factor in strenghthening Ottawa's back end which would help ice a more balanced team. Thats the positive. The negatives tho far outweigh the positives IMO. I am just hoping that with more sheltered minutes and playing away from teams top lines he's able to be a dependable T4D
- SENS 613

Don't forget that the actual dollars go down on the Phaneuf deal in the back end. So his contract only hurts if the Sens are near the cap. I don't see the league cap being a problem. Sens are going to remain a budget team. Because his actual dollar value is lower, he isn't as big a hit on the internal cap ( which is based of salary, not cap hit ).

The last 3 years of his contract where he will be 33-35 of age, his hit dollar value will be 6.5M,6.5M, and 5.5M. If trend lines continue in 2018-2020, that will be about right for a middling 2nd pair dman. High level 2nd pairing Dmen will be getting paid much more. It is not a steal by any stretch, and we will see if Dion is still able to hold onto a 2nd pairing role at that age...but it's not exactly a death blow contract.

I'm not sure why anyone would be so negative about the Phaneuf trade at this point. A substantial portion of his salary was offset by dumping Cowen, Michalek, and Greening, he's fit in seamlessly with Ceci and has given this team a quality 2nd defence pairing, and he's even started to provide vocal leadership in the dressing room. Legitimate top-4 defenceman are difficult to acquire, and even if overpaid are rarely a negative thing in the long-run.

I'm not sure why anyone would be so negative about the Phaneuf trade at this point. A substantial portion of his salary was offset by dumping Cowen, Michalek, and Greening, he's fit in seamlessly with Ceci and has given this team a quality 2nd defence pairing, and he's even started to provide vocal leadership in the dressing room. Legitimate top-4 defenceman are difficult to acquire, and even if overpaid are rarely a negative thing in the long-run.
- khawk

Look I am usually part of the positive crowd when looking at Ottawa but have people forgotten how poorly he has played over the last couple seasons?

I agree with your points about leadership and the difficulties in acquiring T4D. I just didn't see much in the small sample size he showed this season. With Ottawa being a peasant budget team I believe they could run into problems re-signing player x or signing any UFA's because a sizable chunk of the budget is invested in Dion (Plus I think Lindberg is going to develop into a quality T6F)

I sincerely hope I am wrong and I think the team will need him to be play well in order to get back in the playoffs.

bobby ryan is a good guy and a positive in the dressing room.

But, he is not a good skater.

Players who are not good technical skaters dramatically fall off their game around age 30. It can only get worse.
- spatso

^^this^^

His skating is terrible and he falls at the oddest of times, sometimes with little to no contact. His nickname should be BJ because he's always going down.

Just an observation, but Bobby looks to me like in no nhl shape at all. He relies mostly on skill. I would be surprised to hear he doesn't train at all in the summer and travels all around in his RV.

I like the guy, but if I was Dorion, I would ask Boucher to do anything he can to make sure Ryan has success and I would trade him to Philly straight up for Giroux. Homeboy vs homeboy.

Just an observation, but Bobby looks to me like in no nhl shape at all. He relies mostly on skill. I would be surprised to hear he doesn't train at all in the summer and travels all around in his RV.

I like the guy, but if I was Dorion, I would ask Boucher to do anything he can to make sure Ryan has success and I would trade him to Philly straight up for Giroux. Homeboy vs homeboy.
- SENSpatriot

He needs to play with Turris. End of Story.

I'm not sure why anyone would be so negative about the Phaneuf trade at this point. A substantial portion of his salary was offset by dumping Cowen, Michalek, and Greening, he's fit in seamlessly with Ceci and has given this team a quality 2nd defence pairing, and he's even started to provide vocal leadership in the dressing room. Legitimate top-4 defenceman are difficult to acquire, and even if overpaid are rarely a negative thing in the long-run.
- khawk

People were freaking over the Gonchar contract and at the end of the day it was a really good signing. Weircoche has just not been the same since Gonch left.

He needs to play with Turris. End of Story.
- TheCalSen

Anyone other than Gomez would be a start.

I'm not sure why anyone would be so negative about the Phaneuf trade at this point. A substantial portion of his salary was offset by dumping Cowen, Michalek, and Greening, he's fit in seamlessly with Ceci and has given this team a quality 2nd defence pairing, and he's even started to provide vocal leadership in the dressing room. Legitimate top-4 defenceman are difficult to acquire, and even if overpaid are rarely a negative thing in the long-run.
- khawk

Dion is a good addition right now. Remains to be seen how he'll be in 4-5 years. Seems like big and tough d-men regress a little quicker than puck moving guys, for obvious reason. But then again, he can move the puck too. He should provide solid defence on a pairing with Ceci.

I've said it before and will say it again. Window to try and win is the next 3 years. Guys like Dion and Ryan are fine right now, but age will certainly come into play as you start crossing years off their contracts. Combine that with Karlsson needing to be resigned and Turris, Stone, Zibby, and Hoffman needing to be resigned soon, the window of opportunity for this current group is closing. Time to add a couple of reasonable roster enforcements to try and get to the level of the caps and pens in the East.

You can't honestly believe Ryan would be enough to acquire Giroux.

Fine, Ryan and a bag of pucks

Ryan is a good soldier for this team, for now. Probably should be paid like 5.5 mil for 5 years, but given the circumstances, he cashed out big - and thats not his fault.

Im of the belief that no player, in any north american major sport, should be given more than a 5 year term. I realize this is totally unrealistic, but I wouldn't be surprised if over the next 20-25 years you will see this happen through collective bargaining. Either that or the elimination of guaranteed contracts.

There are just so many factors that the risk isn't worth the reward in about 95% of the athletes. Say what you will about the NFL, they have contracts figured out. And say what you want about the blue jays, they won't give any player more than 5 years and good on them.

If a regular person who works at lets say Hydro Ottawa is paid 100k a year but slowly starts to be bad at their job, that person isn't kept around. People are paid based on performance. Its that simple. Thats how jobs work... I for one can't wait till the major sports all start to do this. Nothing frustrates me more than paying money to see someone screw the pooch.

Im optimistic that Ryan will play well, but, I would honestly be looking to move that contract. No contract is unmovable. Look at Phaneuf...