Bobby Ryan powers up to NHL
Big playoff role for 2nd 2005 pick
by Karen Francis
Hockeytalk.biz

In June 2005 there was no doubt who would be picked first at the entry draft. The question was, who would be chosen #2? The Ducks chose Bobby Ryan. While Sidney Crosby made the immediate expected leap to the NHL, Ryan did not. Ryan, who just turned 21 on St. Patrick’s Day, finally got his first taste of the NHL this season, playing 23 games with the Ducks and spending most of his time developing in the AHL with the Portland Pirates.

Bobby Ryan (Photo courtesy Anaheim Ducks)

Many fans have been wondering impatiently what is taking so long, making unfair comparisons to Crosby and even Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings who was chosen 11th in that same draft. The difference is that Ryan is a big guy at 6’1,” 218 lbs., and he is slated to be a top six power forward. He’s not one of those “little slick skating forwards,” as he calls Crosby and Kopitar. Power forwards have to do a lot more “bump and grind” and therefore it takes a bit longer to develop. “I think for me, the way that they brought me in and the way that they gave me time in the American League, brought me along slowly, that’s just going to help me a lot.” Sure, the Ducks could have rushed Ryan’s development, but why?

Ryan is on a learning curve. He knows the game, but now he is figuring out the expectations, the system, learning to do the little things. “I get better feedback every day for what those little things are,” said Ryan. “Hopefully they’re starting to realize I am going to play hard and do what it takes to be successful in whatever role is given.” Ryan also looks to the veterans in the locker room for assistance. “Every veteran in the room is a good role model.” Todd Bertuzzi has helped a lot with what it takes to be a power forward. Doug Weight has also been happy to take Ryan under his wing and sees much progress. “Bobby is looking a lot more comfortable on the ice,” observed Weight. “It’s shown in his game. Since coming back this last time, he’s played better with each game.”

Ryan has been eased into the line-up gently by coach Randy Carlyle, for which Ryan is grateful. “When you’re thrown right into the fire and asked to contribute right off the bat, it can either go great or terribly. It’s a lot to bear. The way (Carlyle) did it and the way he’s still doing it, giving me more and more every game, it’s starting to work for me.” Ryan’s most recent call up came when Corey Perry was injured with a lacerated right quadriceps tendon. “I came right in on game day. That’s the way it’s been each time I’ve been called up. When I saw my name on the roster I knew I would play, I wasn’t sure where I would be. Then it was the fourth line. (Carlyle) gave me a chance to ease into it and made it a lot easier for me.”

When asked the difference between the fourth line and being put in the top six, Ryan quickly responded, “It’s easier to be a top six guy taking every shift, getting into a rhythm.” While being on the fourth line is a nice transition, it can be challenging playing fewer minutes and having a longer time between shifts.

While Ryan is trying to get comfortable and he is also learning how to move out of his comfort zone. One of those comfortable areas is being a playmaker. “I’ve never been the guy that shot the puck,” says Ryan, “I know that’s what they want me to do more. I go down thinking I can shoot the whole way, but I have to pass. It’s starting to come around where I’m thinking shoot first, ask questions later.” Ryan has done that in his past five games, scoring 2 goals, and 5 points. His goal in the final regular season game tied things up and led to the Ducks eventual win in a shootout. Ryan also started the scoring for the Ducks by scoring the lone goal in the first game against the Kings in London.

With 5 goals on 37 shots, Ryan had a 13.5% shooting percentage, just behind Teemu Selanne with 13.8% and Corey Perry with 14.5%. Ryan acknowledged that if he starts shooting more he was “sure it’s going to go down. I’m not unhappy about that.” Shoot first. Ask questions later. Or maybe that would be celebrate later.

Ryan is looking to the future. In September, when training camp rolls around, he hopes to earn a permanent spot on the team and have the opportunity to play all 82 games, something he personally feels ready to do. “I didn’t come here to be a third or fourth line guy. I really hope that I have a spot there on the top six and they need me to fill the void.” Part of his plans to reach that goal include becoming a resident of southern California instead of New Jersey in the summer months. Sean Skahan, the Ducks trainer, will either be his best friend or his worst nightmare as he gets Ryan into condition and ready for what it takes to be a top six power forward in the league.

But for now, Ryan’s immediate focus is on the Stanley Cup playoffs, his first experience with them on the ice. Last year he joined the team, but as an observer, “I think I got a chance to see a lot last year, which was really neat. The intensity that you need compared to the AHL. I’m looking forward to be a part of that.” The Pirates are also heading into their playoffs, but even though he’d like to help them out, Ryan firmly asserts, “I think right now I’m where I want to be. I have a chance to prove myself in the playoffs. That’s all I’m really happy for. To get a chance.”

First chance comes against Dallas starting Thursday. With Bobby Ryan’s talent, it won’t be his last.

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2008 Western Hockey Network