Ryan Riddles

The reported availability of Bobby Ryan should be of interest to 29 other clubs, not just the Maple Leafs. The kid can score, being No. 2 in the draft to Sidney Crosby has never bothered him and there's a personality there that sells in a bigger hockey market.

Do the Ducks have to move him? No, but they may want to do something soon, and looking further ahead, carrying Ryan's $5.1 million per season cap hit will make the squeeze a little tighter after next season when both Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry become unrestricted free agents. It seems doubtful Anaheim can keep all three.

But that's the longer term view. Short term, the Ducks could fire coach Randy Carlyle, which seems unlikely, or they could shuffle the deck. GM Bob Murray might be of a mind right now to try and recover some of the young assets lost to Toronto in the Francois Beauchemin deal last winter. The Ducks made the playoffs and Beauchemin played well, but now the team's lousy, he's 31 years old and both Joffrey Lupul and cherubic blueliner Jake Gardiner are playing well with the Leafs.

Murray and Brian Burke have done deals before - Anaheim moved J.S. Giguere's monster contract, the Leafs dumped Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake - and it seems some teams are comfortable doing deals with certain others. Look at all the trades Vancouver and Florida have swung in recent seasons. Burke loves Ryan, and indeed, he turned down overtures from Cliff Fletcher in his final months in Anaheim when the Silver Fox was pitching hard for Ryan.

So should the Leafs be interested now? Yes. Does it matter than Ryan's another scoring winger, not a centre? Not really. The Leafs are in the business of acquiring top six forwards as assets. The positional balance can be addressed later. Is Ryan's salary a problem? He's got three more years after this one at $5.1 million. That's hefty, but not a cap crippler for a team like the Leafs.

Which brings us to the cost, and here's the tricky part. Ryan's a 30-35 goal man, a real stylist out there, not surprising for a legendary roller hockey player. But he doesn't really have a physical component to his game, he's not an accomplished penalty killer and he's off to a so-so start this season.

You don't want to overpay, but here's a guy it's easy to get over-excited about. Obviously, a young defenceman would have to be part of a deal, and maybe that's Luke Schenn or Carl Gunnarson or Cody Franson. Nazem Kadri could be in there. Stuart Percy is a young blueliner and Leaf first round playing junior in Mississauga. Nik Kulemin might make sense, but he's having an off-year, too. With the Leafs high in the NHL standings, a 2012 first rounder could come into play.

Some combination of that group might make sense. Perhaps it's Kulemin and Franson for Ryan. Schenn and Kadri? The Leafs have assets, more than in a long time, the result of steady work by Burke and Dave Nonis over the past three years. The guessing is Anaheim would want to net a significant name, and Schenn is the one young Leaf, formerly the fifth overall in the draft, that would carry the most cache despite his ups and downs this season.

You can bet Burke will kick the tires on this one, see if Ryan really is up for grabs. He knows the young man well and believes in him, and he and Murray can do business, with the fact they're a conference apart making it a little easier for both. The guessing is the Leafs would have interest best described as "mild" to "medium," given that they've already got some offensive wingers having good seasons. But price can change desire on the NHL trade market.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Ami Angelwings]

". However since Burke had a chance to move him on draft day to get Tavares, I can't see him moving him now for a lesser talent. Ryan certainly would be an instant top 6 on most every team."

When was this? Source?

[Bill D.]

I can't see the Ducks parting with Ryan for spare parts in the Leafs chest. The Ducks are not in the dire straits that you imply. At the end of 2011-12, Blake is an UFA and so is Selanne and I can see the Ducks willing to part ways with Koivu. By not resigning Selanne and Blake, the Ducks free up 8 million in cap space. Also, you suggest that the Ducks can't resign Perry and Getzlaf easily but their present salaries of $5.35 million is not far off of where they'd resign at. For Getzlaf and Perry to command more than $7 million they'll have to increase their point total and make a better effort to make the playoffs. Should the Leafs need a rental closer to playoff time, I would not be surprised if Selanne becomes available but at a cost of a young gun or two. On another note, I'm not as sold on Bobby Ryan's upside as you are Damien but I see nothing wrong with fantasizing.

[hoofheartz]

Jimmy_Ostrich, don't you ever tire of being wrong, wrong, wrong. Kadri is not now, nor will he ever be the superstar you have pegged him to be. 30 goals and 70 assists? Really? My god man we're still waiting for Kessel to score 60 as you guaranteed last year. Perhaps you can convince us that you're Ron Wilson's son instead of Pat Quinn's. Lets face it, it doesn't matter if you're ostrich_lover, theFonze or Jimmy, you have no credibility whatsoever when it comes to hockey.

[jimmy]

Well, Kadri is in the AHL only b/c Burke likes to develop players that way, his skill set gets him in the league at 18 (like Kyle Turris) you might remember former 'bust' Corey Perry, who was a total loser b/c he was in the AHL at the exact same part of his career as Kadri. He won the Hart last year......just saying. Anyone who thinks Schenn is an average Dman simply doesnt know anything about hockey. Saying that ruins any other good point you might make, its simply ridiculous. And I love Keith Aullie, but he and Schenn are in different leagues (not just literally either). Also, anyone who thinks 'defensive defensemen with limited offensive potential' are easily replaceable is insane and very very wrong.

[Mark Berry]

Bobby Ryan? He's 24 and just had 71 points in 82 games a year ago. And some of these commentators wouldn't trade Luke Schenn and Kadri for him? Insane. Ryan is not producing right now, but neither are Getzlaf or Perry. Ryan has HUGE potential, who has a price which can be taken advantage of, right now. Give 'em Schenn and Kadri, no loss. Schenn doesn't have the mean streak necessary to be a good D-man (unless youyr name is Lidstrom)....and Kadri is...a good 50-point forward. Ryan is an 80-pt forward.

[Billy Biroux]

Leafs need a top line centre. They have Connoly and a prayer right now.
I would certainly not resign Grabovski. If Perry is a free agent, I see what he wants and go after him. This guy would thrive back in his home province.
We need a Canadian superstar on this team, and Perry fills that void. Forget Ryan. Go after Perry in the off season.

[Canfomm]

This is an asset game,It comes down to what defenceman Burke should peddle.I hear alot of Franson talk.The kid has an pedigree!WJ Gold,Memorial Cup Champion...and youth and size!Real Canadian heart!Make room for Colbourn,package Grabo,Gunnersson,and Jessie Blackard?

[Adil]

Is there anyway we can throw Mike Komisarek into a deal for Bobby Ryan? No matter who we give along with him, its a Win for us

[A.J.M]

are you guys idiots trading two prospects, schenn is like 23 and kadri is like 22. Lets not forget it takes dman longer to develop and mature and the fact that schenn was able to make the jump from CHL to NHL at 18 years of age, Schenn has like 17 years or more of much better hockey left in him. Not many dman can say that they made that imediate jump and stay in the league and post descent stats in the seasons he has been here. And Kadri is still learning and would be with the club but he cant becuase the club is soooo deep in top six forwards, they dont want him playing bottom six minutes if you would now anything about hockey

[Virgil]

Problem is that you'd have to give up a solid first-team player ... like Tyler Bozak ... I don't know if I would part with him, eh Damien?

[Jimmy]

Hoofheartz youre jealousy is really funny, I know you cant tell the difference between a joke and reality, but if you notice, when I am serious, I am one of the only people who actually gives good hockey analysis on the entire internet., I just exaggerate to bug guys like you, but really, i once published a blog on this website that was THE ABSOLUTE FIRST piece, in the entire media, to note what an exciting young team Burke was building. So if I don't have any credibility , why should anyone else in the media. I will also tell you this: there is one reason and one reason only that Toronto 'fans' hate Kadri : hes a muslim. You guys can barley, just barley tolerate an American running the team and a best player who is american (on pace for 60 goals btw) but you cant stand that a Muslim player will be a star. Sickening really.

[A True Leafs Fan]

We should all trust in Burke. I cannot think of one bad trade that he has done. stalberg for a first rounder... garbage for phanuef and aulie...big beauch for lupul and gardnier. I trust Burke, he doesnt make a trade unless it is benificial for the team. we went from stajan hagman and ponikarovsky to kessel lupul and connolly...this man is a genious.

[Jim Jack]

I love Bobby Ryan. Not too many like him become available. But the Leafs cannot possibly give up on Schenn or Kadri or they risk the wrath of the naysayers who criticize the "giving up futures" crowd. I agree with the assessment that Kulemin is equal in potential to Ryan, so a trade straight up with a throw-in by the Leafs (any pick or two picks not a first rounder) to even the deal may help BOTH teams and BOTH players which is the goal of trades. Bottom line is that Ryan does not address the real needs of the team which is a number one centre. Burke can and will make the trade if Ryan is available, but he will rightly position himself as not being "desperate" to do so. By the way, it is also true that great defensive d-men are very hard to find too, so the likes of Franson, Aulie, Komisarek are not easy to part with. See what happens when their shut down d-men get injured (example, the oft-maligned Hal Gill with the Habs). I like the fact that Burke knows this and stock piles these type of players.

[RRWM]

The cap numbers would have to match up since T.O. is close to the cap now....Ryan(5.1M) for Grabbo(3.1) or Lombardi(3.5) and Gunnerson(1.4) plus maybe Boyce(700K).......do the deal after Xmas......I say no to Kadri, Schenn, Kulemin or a 1st being involved....better off staying put with what we have....Aulie can fill in for Gunner like last year, and the kids make Grabbo and Lombardi expendable so take yer pick.

[Harpreet Singh]

The Leafs have a a lot of mid level talent. They need another superstar. No teams make it to the show, or deep into the playoffs without 2 or more stars. (Unless you get lucky with superb goaltending, or an elite dman like Chara or Pronger playing 30 minutes)

Crosby Malkin. St Lious Stamkos. Datsyuk Zetter. The Sedins...Kessel Ryan.
We have enough pieces to make a run at Ryan. He is an amazing player, with an amazing shot, just off to a slow start. And in the process we can eliminate the log jam we have at D.
And Kadri WILL NOT be as good as Bobby Ryan, Burke knows this, and so do the Ducks. Kadri, defensemen, 2nd rounder for Ryan. Hopefully that gets it done. Get on it Burkie!!

[John Antonio]

If the Leafs go after another forward, they should try to shake Eric Staal free from Carolina. A scoring centre who is strong on the puck and has won the Cup? Yes, please. Oh, and I wouldn't give up Schenn. He and Gardiner, both in their 20s, are developing a real chemistry out there.

[hoofheartz]

Well, you've managed to do it JimmytheFonzeOstrich_Lover: You've left me almost speechless. We hate Kadri because he's a muslim? Seriously? You take that from the fact that you are one of the few who posts regularly that thinks he will turn out to be anything more than a mid-level NHLer? I guess the next thing is we hate PK Subban and Wade Simmonds because they're black or Mike Cammaleri because he's Jewish. One thing I do know for certain is that you can't fix stupid and you Sir have reached the terminal stages of that particular affliction.

[nugentmania]

I love how these names get thrown around in a trade for Bobby Ryan. Well here's a reality check.......take away the first 23 games of this season and who is Bobby Ryan most comparable to on the Leafs roster in age, career stats (including average goals per season) and draft pedigree?

[Jimmy]

If you think that Kulemin is equal in talent Ryan, I would like to also say that Kessel is just slightly better than Crosby. I love Kulemin, but lets be realistic.

[Leafer1982]

Whether he's American is irrelevant. And what does nationality matter in this discussion anyways?? We're building a winner, nationality doesn't matter. Would any of you turn down the multi-national and cosmopoliton Red Wing teams of the late 90's and early 2000's!?

Anyways all of that aside, I don't think the Leafs going after Ryan is a wise move. You make that move if you believe your team is on the cusp of challenging for the Cup. We're just getting used to challenging for a playoff spot here, so lets take baby steps and not get ahead of ourselves. For those knocking Schenn, remember that the development of defencemen takes much longer than that of a forward unless your a player of Drew Doughty's calibre and status. Of course he's not exactly lighting it up now either. Patience is needed with your d-men, we won't know he's a flop till he's 24 or 25. He just turned 22 people, get real.

[bdh]

luke schenn...lol...i cant recall a more over-rated player in my lifetime...anyone actually watch hockey instead of having it on as eye candy? stop listening to the talking heads like that 'tard greg millen - who i assume has bought stocks in the schenn empire.

[Jimmy]

Schenn is good. Sure he makes mistakes, but they are magnified by the pressure and attention paid to him.

[Matt Swift]

TRADE PHAGOOF, straight up. If you can pull that off Burkey I will forever bow to your greatness. Once a seemingly solid all around defenseman in Calgary, Phaneuf has failed to show anything but the ability to shoot and skate forwards since. Yes, he makes the occasional open ice hit but easily the worst decision-making defenseman on the Leafs in his own zone.(other than Komisarek, of course) His new nickname should be Captain Chase because at all times he is just chasing the puck, waving his stick, unaware of what else is developing or what position he should be in.