Bobby Ryan

Robert Shane Ryan (born March 17, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey winger who played for the Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings in the NHL. Selected second overall by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2005 draft, he spent six seasons with the club before being traded to Ottawa in 2013, and later played one season with Detroit in 2020–21. He also represented the United States in international and Olympic competition.

Ryan began his major junior career with the Owen Sound Attack after being selected seventh overall in the 2003 OHL Selection Draft, despite initially telling OHL teams he would not play major junior. He recorded 39 points as a rookie in 2003–04 and improved to 89 points the following season, leading to his high draft selection.

After finishing his OHL career in 2006–07, Ryan joined the Ducks’ AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, for eight games. He made his NHL debut in 2007–08, scoring his first goal in London, England, against the Los Angeles Kings, but was sent back to Portland after four games. Recalled in March 2008 due to Corey Perry’s injury, Ryan made the opening roster again in 2008–09 but was sent to the Iowa Chops due to salary cap issues. Recalled later that season, he recorded a natural hat trick on January 8, 2009, against Los Angeles—the first by a rookie in Ducks history and the fastest in franchise history. On March 22, 2009, he broke Dustin Penner’s franchise rookie point record with his 46th point. He was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy in April 2009, though Steve Mason won the award.

In September 2010, Ryan signed a five-year, $25.5 million extension with Anaheim. During a December 12 game against the Minnesota Wild, he scored a goal using Mikko Koivu’s stick after Koivu stole his—a play later ranked number one on TSN’s “Top 10 NHL Oddities.” During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Ryan played 11 games for Mora IK in Sweden alongside Anže Kopitar. On November 24, 2012, he participated in Operation Hat Trick, a charity game for Hurricane Sandy relief.

On July 5, 2013, the Ducks traded Ryan to the Ottawa Senators for Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen, and a 2014 first-round pick. He scored 23 goals in his first season with Ottawa, which ended early due to sports hernia surgery in March 2014. In October 2014, he signed a seven-year, $50.75 million extension. He earned his first All-Star Game selection in 2015. After a difficult 2016–17 regular season with 25 points in 62 games, Ryan excelled in the 2017 playoffs, scoring four goals in six games against the Boston Bruins and finishing with six goals and nine assists as the Senators fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

In the 2019–20 season, Ryan missed about three months while in the NHL player assistance program for alcohol abuse. He returned on February 25, 2020, and scored his fifth career hat trick in his first home game back two days later. That September, he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication. On September 25, 2020, the Senators placed him on unconditional waivers for a contract buyout; he cleared waivers the next day and became a free agent for the first time.