NHL Rumors: Bobby Ryan Saga Continues
It has been more than a month since Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks said he was frustrated with constantly being the subject of trade rumors and suggested he might want to just be traded already. Since then, though, Ryan hasn’t spoken of it again and nor has Ducks general manager Bob Murray.
It could be that the two parties have spoken privately and settled their differences, although that seems unlikely.
Ryan, a native of New Jersey, said that he wouldn’t mind playing for the conveniently-located Philadelphia Flyers, but in a twist reminiscent of the Rick Nash trade saga, the asking price for Ryan’s services was reportedly too high for the Flyers to consider.
Speaking of Nash, it’s possible that Murray had been waiting until he was taken off the market to really start shopping Ryan around, especially to teams that were interested in getting Nash but were thwarted by the New York Rangers. Indeed, some of those teams have been linked to Ryan now: the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and even the Colorado Avalanche have been suggested. The Avalanche might be especially interested considering their weak showing in 2011-12, including their low goals per game total, and their criticism in The Hockey News as being potentially set to disappoint again.
Ryan will be easier to market than Nash, though, as he does not have a no-trade clause in his contract.
An unlikely new home base for Ryan is the San Jose Sharks–it would be strange for Anaheim to trade him to an in-state division rival, although stranger things have happened, like that in-game trade of Michael Cammalleri.
The idea of Ryan going to the Buffalo Sabres was first floated at the start of last season, when both the Ducks and Sabres were struggling in the standings.
Staying in the Northeast Division, the Ottawa Senators have shown interest, but an Ottawa-area reporter recommends the Sens wait to jump on Ryan until after a new collective bargaining agreement is in place.
The silence between Ryan and Murray will just continue to create trade rumors, though, until it is made clear that Ryan will either remain in The Pond (a.k.a. the Honda Center in Anaheim) or definitely go elsewhere.
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