This sucks. A cold reminder hockey is a business. Would have been a more classy move to keep him on. This looks bad on the organization that alienates its former players.
Good luck Bobby you are one of the good ones
Watching this video again actually upset me. The expectations for Ryan coming were so high, and rightfully so, and not just for him but the entire team.
The fans expected instant chemistry with Spezza, which seemed like a perfect fit, they expected Bobby to score 50 goals, they expected both he and Spezza to put 80+ point seasons together....
Just sad how it never materialized as a fit here, even Bobby Ryan himself in that video mentions that he had scored 30 goals four times before coming to Ottawa and asked fans how many they think he should score with Ottawa.
So do I. We all very much needed that that day.Good luck Bobby!
Really enjoyed his attitude and positivity towards the fans and the city.
I still remember that tweet: "Watch out Ottawa, I'm coming in hot!"
As a pure hockey move I get it. This one may get lumped in with other PR mis steps this organization has committed. The perception of, guy get his life back together after he goes into rehab to return to a team that "cuts" him is a pretty bad narrative. Especially given Ryan's life back story. Truth is Ryan may be done as a hockey player skill wise. I wonder if they could have waited or if this decision had to be made. In many ways it embodies as Sens narrative going from feel good story returning guy scores hat trick after reclaiming his life to He's been released. Hopefully it works out for him. I'm still cheering for himI don't think buying him out looks bad in a vacuum, though there is certainly some potential for the wrong message to be sent by buying out a guy who just won the Masterton. what i don't get is not giving him a heads up that they were considering it.
does he have anything left in his tank?