The Detroit Red Wings have inked forward Bobby Ryan to a one-year contract, the team announced on Friday.
The deal is worth $1 million.
Ryan, 33, had the final two seasons of his seven-year deal with the Senators bought out late last month.
“This was a decision that required a lot of consideration,” Ottawa’s general manager, Pierre Dorion, said of the decision in the team’s press release at the time. “Bobby’s long been a deserving fan favourite in Ottawa. While we’re appreciative of his efforts on the ice, it’s outweighed by how proud we are of him for the courage that he has demonstrated off of it. As we continue to take strides in our rebuild, this decision was one that we felt was best for the organization. We wish he and his family the best as he moves forward.”
Ryan received the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey in 2019-20 after taking a four-month leave of absence from the Senators mid-season to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program citing substance abuse issues related to alcohol.
Ryan brought offence and strong leadership to Ottawa, but his $7.25-million cap hit was not conducive to the Senators’ rebuilding efforts.
In Detroit, he’ll be able to be a veteran locker room leader with another rebuild, as Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman builds up his roster in his second season at the helm.
In addition to bringing veteran experience, Ryan now has a chance to also revive his production with this one-year deal. Just last year, he tallied 15 goals and 42 points in Ottawa and isn’t far removed from back-to-back 50-plus point seasons with the Senators.
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