Bobby Ryan Signs 5 Year Contract Extension With the Anaheim Ducks

TSN has reported the Anaheim Ducks have locked up Bobby Ryan with a five-year $25.5 million contract. This is shocking as it comes months after the Ducks offered Ryan a very similar contract and he refused it because it was too long term. Everyone expected a shorter term contract for Ryan but it seems Ryan wanted to stay with the Ducks.

There is also the possibility that Ryan realized there is really no option for an RFA that is this good as the price is so high nobody (remember Burke does not have the draft picks and Kevin Lowe is no longer a GM) would trade for him, or send an offer sheet. Also teams that had the money to sign Ryan did not have the cap space and the ones who had the cap space did not have cash. This is affecting the UFAs just as much as the RFAs.

Bobby Ryan had been honest throughout most of his interactions with the media which is rare nowadays. He said he would not seek Corey Perry or Ryan Getzlaf money, and he kept his word as he now makes half a million dollars per year less than either of them. Murray had also stated he will not be traded, but remember Darryl Sutter had said something similar about Dion Phaneuf.

It is partly the media's fault as they have modified statements in the past to make people look bad and thus more people read their articles. However, with all these people reading statements that were clearly written by a PR rep it is quite refreshing to see that Bobby Ryan and Ducks management have remained honest.

The Anaheim Ducks now have one of the best top three forwards in the NHL in Perry, Getzlaf, and Ryan locked up for a few more years. The issues they have had is defense ever since Chris Pronger left. Now that Scott Niedermayer has retired the new defensive additions must gel for the Ducks to return to Stanley Cup form. Maybe Murray even has a trade worked out to acquire more defense from a team like New Jersey or Boston as they have such cap issues.