NHL Trade Rumors: What Teams Could Offer for Bobby Ryan and Would Deal Go Down?

Bobby Ryan is off the trade market for now after the hiring of Bruce Boudreau. However, the Ducks really haven’t looked like an overly improved team. Things can obviously change from how they are now, but there is still a remote chance that Ryan is dealt at the deadline.

What could teams offer the Ducks for Bobby Ryan? Keep in mind that the Ducks currently have 49 contracts against their books so they can’t make deals that put them over the 50-contract limit.

What could Anaheim be looking for?

• First-Round Draft Picks
• Secondary Scoring Forwards
• Offensive Defenseman
• Potential Replacement for Bobby Ryan

Here are the teams that could most likely offer a package for Bobby Ryan.

Where Bobby Ryan Will Not Go

Every team in the NHL would love to add Ryan, but due to limited resources and salary obligations, they aren’t in a position to make a deal. 

In my opinion, out of the 29 other teams, these teams would not be likely destinations for Ryan:

• New York Islanders
• Columbus Blue Jackets- He is not going to Columbus
• Tampa Bay Lightning- Subtractions more valuable than addition
• Pittsburgh Penguins- Salary Cap
• Florida Panthers- Panthers have chemistry going
• Los Angeles Kings- Rivalry
• Calgary Flames- Looking to clean house, not add moving parts
• Edmonton Oilers- Young team growing, could be free-agency players
• Montreal Canadiens- Salary Cap
• San Jose Sharks- Rivals
• Winnipeg Jets
• Ottawa Senators
• Boston Bruins- Could be free agent players for Zach Parise
• Phoenix Coyotes- Hoping not to relocate
• Vancouver Canucks
• Detroit Red Wings

Feel free to post potential trade scenarios for the teams listed here.

Buffalo Sabres

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Drew Stafford, Tyler Ennis, Prospect, 2012 Second-Round Conditional Pick

To Buffalo Sabres: Bobby Ryan, Prospect

The Ducks are starving for secondary scoring and salary-cap relief. This trade helps to accomplish both. Stafford carries a $4 million hit and Ennis is in the last year of his entry-level contract. 

The trade-off of salaries works and would leave the Ducks at exactly 50 contracts. 

Could the Deal Go Down?:

Yes

The Sabres and new owner Terry Pegula are attempting to make a statement. What better way can you make a resounding statement by bringing in a young American star winger?

The Sabres have some sizable contracts like Brad Boyes’ $4 million coming off the cap, so locking up Ryan long-term would not be an issue.

Anaheim would gain two young players with some skill and upside. Trading a 70-80 point player for two 45-60 point players with a conditional draft pick, considering Ennis is retain as a RFA, makes this a doable deal.

Philadelphia Flyers

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Jakub Voracek, James Van Riemsdyk, 2012 Second-Round Pick

To Philadelphia Flyers: Bobby Ryan

It is rumored that if Anaheim were to deal Ryan, they would need to receive two young forwards, a prospect or a respectable draft pick.

This trade looks fair on paper, but would it go down in real life?

Could This Deal Go Down?:

No

The Philadelphia Flyers have a talented young player in JVR. He is signed to a lengthy contract and will continue to grow into a player that could score 65-70 points a year. Voracek came to Philadelphia as a part of the Jeff Carter trade. He is an RFA at year’s end and Philly will most likely sign him.

While Bobby Ryan would be a great acquisition, the Flyers are a team that would most likely look to add another defenseman before considering a scorer.

New York Rangers

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Brandon Dubinsky and Derek Stepan or Ryan McDonagh 

To New York Rangers: Bobby Ryan

Could The Trade Go Down

Click...

That is the sound of Glen Sather’s phone being placed on the receiver. It was heavily rumored that the Rangers were closing in on a deal for Bobby Ryan. No players were formally named but Dubinsky, Michael Sauer, and a top-tier prospect were rumored pieces.

Apparently that wasn’t enough, so at that point the Rangers wouldn’t think twice about trying to trade for Ryan if it meant parting with Stepan and/or McDonagh.

If the trading price were to decrease, maybe Sather picks up the phone when he sees Bob Murray on the Caller I.D.

Toronto Maple Leafs

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Nikolai Kulemin/Tyler Bozak, Luke Schenn, Mikhail Grabovski

To Toronto Maple Leafs: Bobby Ryan, Andrew Cogliano

Could This Deal Go Down?:

No

Adding another superstar in Bobby Ryan would be great for Toronto but just like in the Rangers’ case, would it be worth moving multiple moving parts just to add Ryan?

Toronto should set its sights on acquiring a top-notch center now that Phil Kessel has emerged as the player Brian Burke thought he would be.

Also, Burke most likely would not want to deal Bozak, and I can’t see Anaheim taking some free agents in exchange for a future superstar.

Nashville Predators

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Ryan Suter

To Nashville Predators: Bobby Ryan 

Could This Deal Go Down?:

Yes

This is a very interesting trade. Nashville is a defensive team that needs scoring and Anaheim is a team that could always improve on defense. A high ranking Predators executive feels that there should be no problem inking Weber and Suter, but if push came to shove, the Predators would probably keep Weber.

This trade then becomes interesting and could benefit both sides.

It is a fair one and Suter is a player that could complement Anaheim’s blue line and can eventually replace Lubomir Visnovsky, who is aging and susceptible to injury.

Colorado Avalanche

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Paul Stastny, Tyson Barrie 

To Colorado Avalanche: Bobby Ryan 

Could This Deal Go Down?:

No

I asked fellow NHL Featured Columnist Kevin Goff if he thinks this trade would work for Colorado. He explained that Anaheim would be acquiring a good player in Stastny and Colorado would acquire a a young winger with upside. He goes on to mention that Ryan is just the player Colorado needs.

Adding Stastny gives Anaheim more center depth, but It depends on what Anaheim is looking for when the trade talks resume. 

However, I feel the salary of Stastny may be a deterrent for Anaheim.

St. Louis Blues

What It Could Take:

 To Anaheim Ducks: Chris Stewart, TJ Oshie and Evgeni Grachev 

To St Louis Blues: Bobby Ryan, Roster Player based on St. Louis Needs 

Could This Deal Go Down?:

No...Okay Deal, But Anaheim Can Do Better

This trade may suit both sides, but I don’t see a combination of Stewart, Oshie, and Grachev being enough. Grachev is a good prospect who never seemed to work with the New York Rangers but seems to be acclimating to St.Louis.

Stewart and Oshie are solid players but when you're talking about a caliber player like Bobby Ryan, you would think the price would go up.

Anaheim would probably like this package, but they can find another team to sell them the farm for Ryan.

Washington Capitals

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Mike Green, Brooks Laich, 2012 Draft Pick 

To Washington Capitals: Bobby Ryan  

Could This Deal Go Down?:

No.

Although Anaheim would benefit from a deal that would add a capable two-way player in Brooks Laich and an emerging defender in Mike Green, the Capitals probably decline this request.

Anaheim will be looking for an offensive defenseman and a secondary scorer, so this deal could satisfy their requirements.

With Alex Semin heading to free agency, the Capitals could decide to set their sights on Zach Parise.

Dallas Stars

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Loui Eriksson

To Dallas Stars: Bobby Ryan

Could This Trade Go Down?

Yes, But Would Either Side Make It?

This trade could be considered an even swap. Erikkson is an emerging forward who is also a great two-way player. He is widely underrated and if he was put in Ryan’s current slot, he would likely put up similar numbers.

However this trade would not make much sense.

Chicago Blackhawks

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Niklas Hjalmarsson, Dave Bolland, 2012 Draft Picks, Prospect

To Chicago Blackhawks: Bobby Ryan, Prospect

Could This Trade Go Down?:

No

Chicago has some assets but in order to make this a do-able trade it would involve multiple moving parts and with Anaheim’s contract limit, I don’t think they would want to get involved with a lot maneuvering.

Also offensive players Anaheim would want like Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa could prove to be too expensive for them.

New Jersey Devils

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks: Zach Parise

To New Jersey Devils: Bobby Ryan

Could This Trade Go Down?:

No

Wouldn’t it be quite the story for the Devils to add the local boy from Cherry Hill,NJ? This deal seems to good to be true. Parise has performed consistently and Ryan could grow into a player like Zach Parise.

However, massive contract complications would prevent this picture perfect deal.

Minnesota Wild

What It Could Take:

To Anaheim Ducks - Pierre-Marc Bouchard, 2012 First Round Draft Pick, Prospect

To Minnesota Wild - Bobby Ryan

Could This Trade Go Down?:

Maybe 

This scenario interests me. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, a prospect and a first-round draft pick would be a nice offer for the Ducks. They could get more, but if some maneuvering allowed for additional parts, this trade could be altered for success.

Comments, Questions, Concerns?

Bobby Ryan has a chance of being traded and he could go in one of these deals. I am no expert, so if I made a mistake or undersold/oversold a particular player, I apologize. 

The NHL season is off to a great start with some great stories, and the Bobby Ryan saga may continue on until the deadline and beyond.

Tom Urtz, Jr. is an NHL featured columnist and New York Rangers featured columnist. For NHL news, updates and alerts about players: