| Michael Sonday. 6th February, 2009 - 10:48 am
 Sidney Crosby was anointed with the nickname "The Next One" even before he was drafted first overall in 2005. Since then Crosby has been the league MVP, scoring leader, and to many, the best thing to happen to hockey since the invention of the Zamboni.
Bobby Ryan, the second pick of that draft, was not given any nicknames or made the poster boy of the league. Instead Ryan was forced to grit it out in the minors, playing sparingly in the NHL, waiting and trying to find his way into a regular gig with the Anaheim Ducks. While Crosby was experiencing colossal success, Ryan was being overlooked and was becoming a forgotten prospect.
The road to the NHL has taken longer than expected for Ryan, but the Ducks forward has officially arrived. This season Ryan has seized the opportunity and is showcasing his talent around the league, a talent that skeptics doubted just a few short months ago.
Ryan quieted those critics on December 8th against the Kings, when he recorded his first NHL hat trick in a 4-3 loss. Ryan demonstrated his ability and skill that night, which included one of the nicest individual efforts of the season, a highlight reel spin-o-rama goal.
Since then Ryan has played with more confidence and has gained the trust of the Anaheim's coaching staff.
Utilizing his big frame to battle through in the corners and using his soft hands to maneuver around the opponent's goal has been Ryan's biggest strengths. The combination of grit and skill has resulted in Ryan being a consistent offensive threat for the Ducks.
Ryan is starting to receive accolades for his play on the ice. Ryan was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for January after scoring 16 points in 14 games. Ryan's 34 points ranks him second behind Kris Versteeg amongst rookies, and he is now being mentioned as a candidate for Rookie of the Year honors.
Ryan's stellar play has helped the Ducks stay afloat in the Western Conference playoff race. The Ducks will need Ryan to continue his production for the stretch run as the playoff picture seems a bit cluttered, without Ryan's secondary scoring; the Ducks could be on the outside looking in.
His journey to the NHL has been a long and challenging one for Bobby Ryan. Although he will never match Crosby point for point, Ryan is establishing his own identity in the NHL and is making people remember who the second pick was in the 2005 NHL Draft.
For Ryan, the long wait is over as he has begun to make his impression on the league, one that he hopes will make him unforgettable. |
