Bobby Ryan Question

I see that Ryan has played in the OHL's Owen Sound Attack pre-season this season.

He played in the AHL's Portland Pirates post-season last season.

He's signed by the Ducks.

Provided he doesn't make the Ducks this coming NHL season, where is he slated to play this year, Owen Sound or Portland?

Thanks

I think Owen Sound.

I think Owen Sound.I hope so.

I'd like to see how he and Trevor Lewis do playing together.

Ryan & Lewis have played well at the Pacific Division Shootout.

If the Ducks cut him he'll be sent back to Owen Sound because he is too young to play in the AHL during the regular season. He played in the playoffs this past spring because Owen Sound was eliminated from the OHL playoffs. Also if he makes the opening night roster he can play 9 games and still be sent down but if he plays 10 he'll be a Duck all season.

Considering he isn't exactly dominating the rookie tournament he will not be making the NHL team this season.

He will be in Owen Sound for 06-07.

He still has camp and preseason to show that if he is surrounded by talent he can hack it.

I was at the game yesterday and he looks good - very much a passer though. Only went to the net once, but was dishing like penner was in the col series. The problem was everyone around him was flubbing EVERY chance. So, while he was not stand out AMAZING like AO would be, he could flourish with compitent nhlers on his line. His puck control is very Perry like.... on a string.

So who knows....

No one ever questions Ryan from the half boards in but the rest of his game is where he needs to improve. Effort, intensity, and skating have been his issues since he was a kid. So gifted around the net that he never developed these areas of his game. I don't think going to the Sound will help either with the loose checking style of game in the O these days. To bad he's to young for the AHL. I hope he makes the big team but that will be a long shot.

No one ever questions Ryan from the half boards in but the rest of his game is where he needs to improve.I could see some of that watching him play in the tournament.

The question Burke will have to address will be:

Will Bobby Ryan be better served in Anaheim or Owen Sounds?

My answer is Anaheim. I don't think Ryan has much more to prove in the OHL and sending him back will only stunt his growth. Good players need to be challenged and playing in the NHL will only make him a better player. The Ducks can keep a close eye on his development and work with him on his skating/conditioning...which at the moment is the main limiting factor holding him back.

The question Burke will have to address will be:

Will Bobby Ryan be better served in Anaheim or Owen Sounds?

My answer is Anaheim. I don't think Ryan has much more to prove in the OHL and sending him back will only stunt his growth. Good players need to be challenged and playing in the NHL will only make him a better player. The Ducks can keep a close eye on his development and work with him on his skating/conditioning...which at the moment is the main limiting factor holding him back.

That's a huge gap to make up from the OHL to the NHL. What if Ryan becomes bored with just practice? The NHL club can't send him down to the AHL due to age regulations. So basically, wasting a roster spot for most of the year instead of rewarding those working hard in Portland. Yeah, that's fair to rest of the organization. Heck, Getzlaf and Perry showed more promise than Ryan, but those two got sent back down to the AHL to prove themselves yet again.

In fact, both Getzlaf and Perry stayed an extra year in the juniors, Hitman and Knights respectively(Granted it was during the lockout, but Perry evolved more and set records). Let Ryan make a goal to completely dominate the juniors, which should include conditioning and training. Part of him staying with Owen Sound has to deal with the mental aspect. Can he find a way to keep himself motivated playing in the juniors and keep it consistent?

From one year with Burke, I really don't think he'll let Ryan just waste a roster spot and cash just to develop Ryan. If he earns it outright, then he'll make the team. If he doesn't, then it's up to Ryan to push himself to become better. The Ducks will keep an eye on him, but how much Ryan can improve is really only up to himself.

There is no real rush with Ryan. If it takes two years to make the NHL club (juniors, then minors), then so be it. Atleast by then, his body should have grown and developed more. That should help him absorb NHL hits.

If you put him on the roster it won't be in a scoring role, it might actually be good for him to play on a line with Marchant or Pahlsson so he can round out more of his game, and he can play on the 2nd pp unit. I think he could contribute to the PP right away Burke and Carlyle have a tough decision to make.

The question Burke will have to address will be:

Will Bobby Ryan be better served in Anaheim or Owen Sounds?

My answer is Anaheim. I don't think Ryan has much more to prove in the OHL and sending him back will only stunt his growth. Good players need to be challenged and playing in the NHL will only make him a better player. The Ducks can keep a close eye on his development and work with him on his skating/conditioning...which at the moment is the main limiting factor holding him back.

I agree though if he has a bad camp he should be sent back purely because he shouldn't be here if he didn't earn it. If he shows promise with his talents with real teammates than keeping him here could be benefical. The way I see it, why not have him here practicing every day with a team that focuses very much on skating, working with the Ducks training staff to get stronger. Because the staff that he has in Owen Sound and personally in the off-season just doesn't seem to be working yet. I don't think he's an awful skater but the guys the Ducks have should surely make him improve as the year goes on. Because if it's mainly his lower-body strength I don't think he'll improve on it any better than he would here in Anaheim.

In fact, both Getzlaf and Perry stayed an extra year in the juniors, Hitman and Knights respectively(Granted it was during the lockout, but Perry evolved more and set records). Let Ryan make a goal to completely dominate the juniors, which should include conditioning and training. Part of him staying with Owen Sound has to deal with the mental aspect. Can he find a way to keep himself motivated playing in the juniors and keep it consistent?

But if Ryan has a good camp and feels he's ready, Owen Sound will be a step back for him. That happened to Getzlaf, his last year with the Hitmen was a forgettable one (he had his captaincy taken away at one point). It really depends on how he does in camp and more importanly in preseason games.

The question Burke will have to address will be:

Will Bobby Ryan be better served in Anaheim or Owen Sounds?

My answer is Anaheim. I don't think Ryan has much more to prove in the OHL and sending him back will only stunt his growth. Good players need to be challenged and playing in the NHL will only make him a better player. The Ducks can keep a close eye on his development and work with him on his skating/conditioning...which at the moment is the main limiting factor holding him back.
Have to disagree. Ryan looks bad. He skates like Stu Grimson.

The question Burke will have to address will be:

Will Bobby Ryan be better served in Anaheim or Owen Sounds?

My answer is Anaheim. I don't think Ryan has much more to prove in the OHL and sending him back will only stunt his growth. Good players need to be challenged and playing in the NHL will only make him a better player. The Ducks can keep a close eye on his development and work with him on his skating/conditioning...which at the moment is the main limiting factor holding him back.

Burke made his decision about Ryan months ago at the Select-A-Seat. He indicated that he was planning on meeting with Ryan and his father to discuss his conditioning. He was not very happy about Ryan's conditioning and made no bones about it.

I will be absolutely surprised if he makes the team. There are two major reasons he won't make the team this year. The first is he needs to improve his condition to stand the rigors of an 82 plus game season (remember he faltered towards the end of his Owen Sound season) and the second is his Salary Cap hit.

The question Burke will have to address will be:

Will Bobby Ryan be better served in Anaheim or Owen Sounds?

My answer is Anaheim. I don't think Ryan has much more to prove in the OHL and sending him back will only stunt his growth. Good players need to be challenged and playing in the NHL will only make him a better player. The Ducks can keep a close eye on his development and work with him on his skating/conditioning...which at the moment is the main limiting factor holding him back.

Ryan doesn't seem all that impressive at the Rookie Tournament. It doesn't make sense to bring him into the NHL when it doesn't sound like he's even ready for the AHL, even if he were eligible to play there. If his skating/conditioning need work, why reward him by bringing him to the NHL? The NHL isn't a development league; it's the big show and the Ducks can't afford to have a player who isn't ready to contribute something to the team.

Ryan doesn't seem all that impressive at the Rookie Tournament. It doesn't make sense to bring him into the NHL when it doesn't sound like he's even ready for the AHL, even if he were eligible to play there. If his skating/conditioning need work, why reward him by bringing him to the NHL? The NHL isn't a development league; it's the big show and the Ducks can't afford to have a player who isn't ready to contribute something to the team.

I think all would agree, Ryan isn't ready to be an everyday player in the NHL. The point of my post concerns whether Ryan would benefit more playing in Anaheim this season rather than getting sent back to Owen Sound. In Anaheim, Ryan would learn from his environment to become a professional and the Ducks could monitor his development. On the other side, players shouldn't be rewarded for roster positions they don't earn. It would send a bad message throughout the organization. True, the NHL is not a developmental league. But the Ducks have invested in Ryan and they want their investment to pay off. IMO, Ryan will gain more in Anaheim than he would in Owen Sound. At the end of the day, Burke will make a decision and I have faith, it will be the correct decision...whether to keep Ryan or send him back.

I'm totally on the same page Jerky. I think everyone is viewing his two rookie games too closely right now. Yes, he doesn't have great legs but I've seen worse. The kid has great hands, can throw his weight around and most importantly wants to be here badly. I feel that once he's on the ice with 20 of some of the best hockey players in the world for the next month, I think he'll improve considerably. It won't cost the Ducks anything until he plays 10 games. I have no doubt that Burke will give this kid every opportunity from now until game 10 to prove himself.

I have no doubt that Burke will give this kid every opportunity from now until game 10 to prove himself.

Couldn't disagree more, I think Burke's mind is already made up on sending him back to Junior. Ryan isn't even ready for the AHL, much less the NHL.

I agree though if he has a bad camp he should be sent back purely because he shouldn't be here if he didn't earn it. If he shows promise with his talents with real teammates than keeping him here could be benefical. The way I see it, why not have him here practicing every day with a team that focuses very much on skating, working with the Ducks training staff to get stronger. Because the staff that he has in Owen Sound and personally in the off-season just doesn't seem to be working yet. I don't think he's an awful skater but the guys the Ducks have should surely make him improve as the year goes on. Because if it's mainly his lower-body strength I don't think he'll improve on it any better than he would here in Anaheim.
You get better by playing not sitting. If he is good enough to play regularly by all means keep him..if not OHL is his destination.

Couldn't disagree more, I think Burke's mind is already made up on sending him back to Junior. Ryan isn't even ready for the AHL, much less the NHL.

He's yet to show what he can do with the real club. With all due respect as well, it's the coaching staff's decision. If they feel he can contribute on this club, more so than any of the other bubble players than they'll keep him. I'm also sick of hearing that he's not ready for the AHL, what do you call 19 playoff games? He proved he already belonged on that team. Though if he was eligible I'd prefer him to be in Portland than anywhere but that's just not an option.

You get better by playing not sitting. If he is good enough to play regularly by all means keep him..if not OHL is his destination.

If he's here, he's playing. No reason to have him here just to be scratched. It's not like fourth line time would kill him, worked for Getz and Perry.

He's yet to show what he can do with the real club.

Right, he looks bad playing other prospects.

With all due respect as well, it's the coaching staff's decision. If they feel he can contribute on this club, more so than any of the other bubble players than they'll keep him.

That quote was all GM-speak by Burke. I guarantee you when it impacts the budget (like Ryan's 800k salary vs Moen at 450k) and possibly trading a player the GM will have a say in it.

I'm also sick of hearing that he's not ready for the AHL, what do you call 19 playoff games? He proved he already belonged on that team.

19 games with 1 goal and very limited ice time? I call that proof he's not ready.

Let him dominate the OHL. On the one hand, it's unfair to make an assessment on him after just two games---the two earliest pre-season games. On the other hand, if he can't dominate the rookie games, he shouldn't even be considered for a roster spot. Somebody playing at that level doesn't belong on an NHL team that's a legitimate Cup contender.

He can work on the weaker aspects of his game at Owen Sound. He's not going to improve much getting limited time at the NHL level. In fact, it could cause him to get frustrated and lose confidence. His whole career is ahead of him. What's the rush?

Regarding Mr. Ryan...it's not just 2 Rookie Tourney games, and a who knows how you spin this camp performance... it's also 1 goal during 19 games with the Pirates playoffs...a less than stellar performance at the US WJC Evaluation camp this summer... a new NHL (and hockey world in general) where quickness and foot-speed are premium assets...

The Ducks / Portland staff defended (perhaps lauded) his AHL Playoff performance, but one could express, as has been voiced by more than a few along this board, "does the Emperor (Ryan) have clothes!"

Pardon the literary paraphrase, but it seems like a fair question. No?

19 games with 1 goal and very limited ice time? I call that proof he's not ready.

Proof that when an out of shape player is playing his hundreth something games of the year, he's not going to be impressive.

I'm also sick of hearing that he's not ready for the AHL, what do you call 19 playoff games? He proved he already belonged on that team.

Hell he didn't, 19 games with very poor results is pretty ****ing far from proving anythign except he wasn't ready for the AHL.

Burke will not compromise either the team or the budget by keeping Ryan up "just to let him show if he has it or not".

Anything less than a stellar performance at the main camp means OHL for Ryan.

Regarding Mr. Ryan...it's not just 2 Rookie Tourney games, and a who knows how you spin this camp performance... it's also 1 goal during 19 games with the Pirates playoffs...a less than stellar performance at the US WJC Evaluation camp this summer... a new NHL (and hockey world in general) where quickness and foot-speed are premium assets...

The Ducks / Portland staff defended (perhaps lauded) his AHL Playoff performance, but one could express, as has been voiced by more than a few along this board, "does the Emperor (Ryan) have clothes!"

Pardon the literary paraphrase, but it seems like a fair question. No?
Ryans 'less than stellar' wjc performance had him amongst the team leaders in scoring, and the leading scorer after the first game.

As for Portland, I didn't watch him there, but it sounded like he didn't get alot of ice time, but still had 8 or 9 points.

Hell he didn't, 19 games with very poor results is pretty ****ing far from proving anythign except he wasn't ready for the AHL.

Burke will not compromise either the team or the budget by keeping Ryan up "just to let him show if he has it or not".

Anything less than a stellar performance at the main camp means OHL for Ryan.

He was inserted into a well-oiled machine and was able to stay in the lineup. He got better as time went on was the first star in Game 6 against Hersey. It won't cost Burke anything to have him start the season here and if he produces, he may stay.

To even get the slightest chance of staying for 10 games, he needs a stellar camp. Anything less and he won't even be given the chance to show his stuff in the NHL.

Ryan's contract has performance clauses and AFAIK those will eat our cap space pretty badly even if he plays a single NHL game (though the cap space will be returned once it becomes mathematically impossible for Ryan to achieve his bonuses).

I guarantee you when it impacts the budget (like Ryan's 800k salary vs Moen at 450k) and possibly trading a player the GM will have a say in it.


Good point. If you have Moen playing a line he's suited for (ie: grinding it on the 4th) and doing that job well and on the cheap it is probably much better for the current makeup of this team to keep Ryan in the OHL instead of having to give him short minutes and in a role he should not be accustomed to having if/when he starts to reach potential.

In Owen Sound he would likely play on a line with Trevor Lewis (LA) and Anton Hedman (BOS). Joining him on that team would be Theo Peckham (EDM), Bobby Sanguinetti (NYR), and Marek Bartanus (TB).

It's a veteran team that many are expecting to make some noise in the league and Ryan would be the captain of that team.

Mike Futa is at the management position:

Mike has extensive experience in professional and junior hockey. After playing professionally in Europe for five years, Mike returned to Canada where he coached with St. Michael's Buzzers and Majors, the Oshawa Generals and the Ontario Under 17 Program. He gained management experience with St. Michael's and Oshawa before joining the Attack. He was named the 2005 OHL Executive of the Year.


...and he's joined by a trio of coaches led by Mike Stothers:

Mike Stothers worked within the Philadelphia Flyers organization for 20 years before joining the Attack in 2002. Mike played in the OHL and was Philadelphia's first pick in the NHL draft in 1980. After a ten year pro hockey career, Mike coached with Hershey and Philadelphia in the AHL and spent three years under Roger Neilson, Craig Ramsey and Bill Barber as an assistant coach of the NHL's Flyers. Mike helped coach the Philadelphia Phantoms to the Calder Cup Championship in 1998.


Stothers is joined by:

David Bell - Assistant Coach
David Bell played for four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Ottawa 67's before moving on to a 6 season professional career as a player with stints in the ECHL, WCHL, UHL and the AHL. David was raised just west of Owen Sound, near Clavering and started his Junior hockey career right here with the Junior B Owen Sound Greys.


and:

Brian O'Leary - Assistant Coach
With the franchise ownership change for the 2000-2001 season, Brian O'Leary was the first ever head coach of the newly named Attack - where he compiled a 31-27-7-3 record for a 0.529 winning percentage - before becoming the head coach of the Owen Sound Junior B Greys for the next three seasons. Brian is a native Owen Sounder. He has previous experience as an Assistant Coach with the Cornwall Royals and Owen Sound Platers of the OHL. He also coached David Bell while David was with the Greys.

The ownership group includes 14 year NHL veteran Paul MacDermid.

The team would have three NHL first rounders on it's powerplay.

Ryan is in very competent hands and would have an opportunity to play plenty of minutes in a leadership role (as Perry did at 19).

Given that he faded badly toward the middle of last year and that he only finished tenth in OHL scoring he still has a ways to go before he could be considered dominant even at the OHL level. He certainly could be dominant and certainly started the season that way, but as has been suggested, he doesn't seem to have the stamina for the complete season at "full tilt". Was very impressive for the first three months last year, after that only flashes of it...though he had some good stuff in the playoffs at crucial moments ( the OHL has a 68 game schedule, but Ryan played closer to 110 with all-star, WJC, OHL playoffs, and AHL playoffs ).

I think Ryan could play at the NHL level, but there isn't often a place for a 19 year old on an NHL team. It's fairly rare. Sid the kid has everyone thinking it's normal to be a teenage phenom. Even Ovechkin was 20.

Ryan is being unfairly compared. In any other draft year you would expect less.

Ryan started to "get it" during the end of his AHL stay, but wasn't a positive factor on a good chunk of his ice time. Frankly, I didn't see so much that his foot speed was especially slow but that he has an exceedingly long stride and doesn't change it up based on the situation. He was lost in traffic. Don't think that his brain/decision making has matured at the same rate as his skill. Every game he seemed to have that one or two moments that he just wowed you will a move and many more where he looked below average. The ohl won't hurt him for another year.

In Owen Sound he would likely play on a line with Trevor Lewis (LA) and Anton Hedman (BOS). Joining him on that team would be Theo Peckham (EDM), Bobby Sanguinetti (NYR), and Marek Bartanus (TB).

It's a veteran team that many are expecting to make some noise in the league and Ryan would be the captain of that team.

Mike Futa is at the management position:

Mike has extensive experience in professional and junior hockey. After playing professionally in Europe for five years, Mike returned to Canada where he coached with St. Michael's Buzzers and Majors, the Oshawa Generals and the Ontario Under 17 Program. He gained management experience with St. Michael's and Oshawa before joining the Attack. He was named the 2005 OHL Executive of the Year.


...and he's joined by a trio of coaches led by Mike Stothers:

Mike Stothers worked within the Philadelphia Flyers organization for 20 years before joining the Attack in 2002. Mike played in the OHL and was Philadelphia's first pick in the NHL draft in 1980. After a ten year pro hockey career, Mike coached with Hershey and Philadelphia in the AHL and spent three years under Roger Neilson, Craig Ramsey and Bill Barber as an assistant coach of the NHL's Flyers. Mike helped coach the Philadelphia Phantoms to the Calder Cup Championship in 1998.


Stothers is joined by:

David Bell - Assistant Coach
David Bell played for four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Ottawa 67's before moving on to a 6 season professional career as a player with stints in the ECHL, WCHL, UHL and the AHL. David was raised just west of Owen Sound, near Clavering and started his Junior hockey career right here with the Junior B Owen Sound Greys.


and:

Brian O'Leary - Assistant Coach
With the franchise ownership change for the 2000-2001 season, Brian O'Leary was the first ever head coach of the newly named Attack - where he compiled a 31-27-7-3 record for a 0.529 winning percentage - before becoming the head coach of the Owen Sound Junior B Greys for the next three seasons. Brian is a native Owen Sounder. He has previous experience as an Assistant Coach with the Cornwall Royals and Owen Sound Platers of the OHL. He also coached David Bell while David was with the Greys.

The ownership group includes 14 year NHL veteran Paul MacDermid.

The team would have three NHL first rounders on it's powerplay.

Ryan is in very competent hands and would have an opportunity to play plenty of minutes in a leadership role (as Perry did at 19).

Given that he faded badly toward the middle of last year and that he only finished tenth in OHL scoring he still has a ways to go before he could be considered dominant even at the OHL level. He certainly could be dominant and certainly started the season that way, but as has been suggested, he doesn't seem to have the stamina for the complete season at "full tilt". Was very impressive for the first three months last year, after that only flashes of it...though he had some good stuff in the playoffs at crucial moments ( the OHL has a 68 game schedule, but Ryan played closer to 110 with all-star, WJC, OHL playoffs, and AHL playoffs ).

I think Ryan could play at the NHL level, but there isn't often a place for a 19 year old on an NHL team. It's fairly rare. Sid the kid has everyone thinking it's normal to be a teenage phenom. Even Ovechkin was 20.

Ryan is being unfairly compared. In any other draft year you would expect less.
Good post. I know I want to see Ryan make the NHL asap seeing how Crosby made it last year, and guys like Bourdon, Kopitar, and Brule having a good chance of doing so this year. That's alot of hockey that he's played

You folks can see the stats from Ryan's first game back with Owen Sound right here:

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=12332

and you can follow the progress of the whole league here:

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/hm/

Note that the league site promotes the fact that you can 'watch' almost any game online.

You can follow the Attack here:

http://www.attackhockey.com/

Note that each team usually has a link to their respective radio webcasts on their homepage.

You can follow the unofficial and official pages for the league, including message boards, video clips, and photos here:

http://www.jrahockey.com/OHLinks/OHLinks.htm

The other branches of the CHL are here:

The QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php

and here:

The WHL (Western Hockey League)
http://www.whl.ca/hm/

and the umbrella league is here:

The CHL (Canadian Hockey League)
http://www.chl.ca/

Now you're armed to the teeth with the required info.

It's a great league...
enjoy.