7 Most Likely Teams to Pursue Bobby Ryan

Prior to the Anaheim Ducks' much-needed win last night and the firing of Randy Carlyle, there was a great deal of trade talk regarding Bobby Ryan.  Since the changes, the speculation has died down, but that doesn't mean a trade isn't possible and teams aren't still interested.  

Carlyle needed to go—he had lost the ability to motivate and discipline his team—but the problems didn't stop there.  The Ducks basically rely on four players for offense (Perry, Getzlaf, Ryan, Selanne), and that doesn't tend to work.  

Anaheim's situation is quite similar to that of the post-lockout Tampa Bay Lightning.  

Once the salary cap was introduced, Tampa Bay lost much of the secondary scoring that had helped them to win the Stanley Cup the season before the lockout.  Unfortunately, this left them relying far too heavily on Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis.  Once it was evident that this regime wouldn't work, the Lightning cut ties with Dan Boyle and Richards.

The Lightning have had a few difficult years since, but despite a slow start to this season, appear to be back on the right track.  

Similarly, Anaheim won the cup in '06-'07 but has since lost many of the players that played big roles that season (Niedermayer, Pronger, Giguere, McDonald, Kunitz).  They did manage to keep their star forwards (Getzlaf, Perry, Selanne), but the Ducks are now in the process of realizing that this system won't work.  

While the firing of Carlyle makes a Bobby Ryan trade far less likely, it is still possible.  These are the teams who could pursue him.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

If I had written this article two months ago, Toronto would be No. 1.  Bobby Ryan would be a perfect fit for the team and could really help the Maple Leafs solidify themselves as a cup contender.  

The only problem is that, considering the success Toronto has seen so far this season, it may not be worth the risk to mix up the roster and potentially disrupt team chemistry.  

6. Nashville Predators

The Predators are well known for impeccable defense and a lack of offense.  Bobby Ryan would, without a doubt, be the star forward on this team and would bring a great deal of excitement for the fans—but who could Nashville give up?  

The most coveted players would be Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.  That said, the Predators have been committed to a defense-first strategy for quite some time now and have been consistently rewarded with postseason appearances. 

Bobby Ryan for Ryan Suter straight-up would be a fair deal, but Anaheim would likely be looking for some offense to be coming back, as that has been a main struggle so far in the season.  

5. New York Islanders

The Islanders have been in the cellar of the NHL for years now and have racked up offensive prospects from the entry drafts over the years.  The problem is that none of this talent has matured yet.  

Expectations for the Islanders haven't been high as of late, but this year something more was expected. The Isles showed promise in the first few games, but have since slid back to the bottom of the standings.  

An offensively-proven player like Bobby Ryan would not only improve the Islanders play, but could be the spark that would help John Tavares reach his potential.  

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets are the only team in the NHL with a worse record than Anaheim's, so a trade between the two could be mutually beneficial.  

The Blue Jackets have a shortage of right wingers, and Bobby Ryan could do wonders for the team.  While a proper candidate in return is difficult to find, both these teams are near—if not in—panic mode, and any change could be the key.  

3. New Jersey Devils

Like the Blue Jackets, the New Jersey Devils also have a shortage of talented right wingers.  The offensive production from the Devils is severely lacking, considering the investment they made on Ilya Kovalchuk (which hasn't shown signs of paying off), and something needs to be done about it.  

Bobby Ryan would surely benefit the Devils' offense, and the fans would love cheering for the hometown kid.  

The only problem is that a starting goaltender for next season could be higher on New Jersey's wish list, with both their goalies nearing the ends of their careers.  

2. Carolina Hurricanes

Apart from the play of forward Jeff Skinner, the Carolina Hurricanes have been far from spectacular this season.  

Canes fans have been let down, to say the least, from the abysmal start to Eric Staal's season to the mediocre-at-best play of Cam Ward. 

With the gritty, yet offensive Tuomo Ruutu likely looking for a new home next season, and an abundance of defensive prospects, the Hurricanes could be the best candidate for a trade with Anaheim.  

1. Colorado Avalanche

In my opinion, there is no other team for whom Bobby Ryan is more suited than the Avalanche.  They have talent on each and every line, and Bobby Ryan's style could click perfectly with their system.  

Early last season, Colorado looked like they might have pulled off the fastest rebuild in memory.  Unfortunately, the team's performance gradually dropped off, culminating in a questionable trade involving Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk for Eric Johnson.  

The Avalanche made some goaltending moves later in the season, but still haven't fully recovered.  Their start to this season has shown glimpses of promise, and the acquisition of Bobby Ryan could really seal the deal.  

The need for another right winger such as Bobby Ryan is there, and Colorado has the means to pull off the move.