Headlines

  • Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Provorov As Part Of Three-Team Trade
  • Anaheim Ducks Name Greg Cronin Head Coach
  • Montreal Canadiens Extend Cole Caufield
  • Mike Babcock Expected To Be Named Blue Jackets Head Coach
  • Pittsburgh Penguins Name Kyle Dubas President Of Hockey Operations
  • Toronto Maple Leafs Hire Brad Treliving
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Ottawa Senators Buy Out Bobby Ryan

September 26, 2020 at 11:01 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 17 Comments

After clearing waivers on Saturday, the Senators announced that they have officially bought out the final two seasons of Bobby Ryan’s contract. GM Pierre Dorion released the following statement on the move:

This was a decision that required a lot of consideration. 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.

The Masterton Trophy winner had two years remaining on a seven-year, $50.75MM contract he signed back in 2014 ($7.25MM AAV). The buyout saves the Senators $3.67MM in each of the next two seasons, but apply a $1.83MM penalty for the following two. The full cap hit will now be as follows:

  • 2020-21: $3,583,333
  • 2021-22: $3,583,333
  • 2022-23: $1.833,333
  • 2023-24: $1,833,333

Ryan, 33, had been with the Senators since the 2013-14 season, scoring 107 goals and 266 points over 455 games. This year he suited up just 24 times, leaving the team for a chunk of the season to deal with his addiction problems. Upon his return, he provided one of the most emotional moments of the year when he notched a hat trick in his first game back in Ottawa.

Coming into the league as a dominant presence for the Anaheim Ducks, Ryan recorded 30 or more goals in four straight seasons, hitting a career-high of 71 points in 2010-11. His deteriorated play in recent years made this an easy choice for the Senators though, one that was even discussed in years prior as his goal totals fell. The simple fact was that he can no longer provide the kind of value required for a $7.25MM cap hit, especially as finances are tightened league-wide.

That said, Ryan now becomes an unrestricted free agent that is able to sign a new contract with whatever team he chooses. For a much lower cap hit, perhaps someone believes they can bring back some of his production. After all, Ryan did score four goals in eight games after returning from the Player Assistance Program.

For the Senators, it’s not so much about the cap space (as they have more than they’ll ever need) but the actual salary owed. Ryan was due $7.5MM in each of the remaining two seasons, a total of $15MM that will be reduced to $11.3MM after the buyout.

His removal from the roster will also provide more minutes for the young Senators core, a group that is actually quite impressive. Not only do they have one of the best prospect systems in the league already, but Ottawa also has seven picks in the first two rounds and thirteen overall this year.

TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report that Ryan’s deal was being bought out.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Newsstand| Ottawa Senators| Waivers Bobby Ryan

West Notes: Rask, Blues, Coyotes
Main
Red Wings Re-Sign Sam Gagner
View Comments (17)
newest oldest

Comments

  1. mhendrickson61

    3 years ago

    That’s brutal

    1
    Reply
    • MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

      3 years ago

      @mhendrickson61 – Agreed!

      Reply
  2. dave frost nhlpa

    3 years ago

    This is an example of a lower rung team getting sucked in to a bad buyout.
    You were going nowhere for 20-21. You play him in your top 6 until a youngster is ready to push him down. You start 21-22 by offering Seattle a cookie. If not,he’s an asset at the 21-22 trade deadline.
    Let me know if that superstar you need to sign so you can finish 10th wouldn’t mind taking a little less because $2M is clogging your books.
    Remember,this is a GM who traded FOR DION.

    Reply
    • jdgoat

      3 years ago

      Melnyk is broke. He doesn’t give a damn about this team. He gets to save 3.6 million dollars so Ryan can take a hike.

      1
      Reply
    • MoneyBallJustWorks

      3 years ago

      you clearly don’t know this team.

      A. why would you offer Seattle something to take him for 1 season when you aren’t a max cap team? that’s just throwing away an asset.
      B. Ryan likely wouldn’t being back anything as that contract is tough to absorb at the deadline without moving salary for most teams.
      C. Again the $2 mil is nothing because of you think Melnyk is spending to the cap ceiling you are nuts.

      the fact is no buyout is great. it means you made a mistake evaluating the talent and your future situation, but this makes a ton of sense. they certainly could have kept him to mentor but at 7 million plus, why do that?

      oh and Murray traded for Dion not Dorion oh Wise One

      Reply
  3. TJECK109

    3 years ago

    Why do I see Ryan joining the pens….

    1
    Reply
    • 66TheNumberOfTheBest

      3 years ago

      Hmmm…we do need a right shot to play the left circle on our PP. That’s probably the only thing Ryan has left to offer.

      A cheap deal to play with McCann and Simon wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

      Reply
  4. shawn baber

    3 years ago

    Took them long enough. Stay away from the bottle. Start a new life

    Reply
  5. The Mistake of Giving Eugene Melnyk a Liver Transplant

    3 years ago

    Every penny counts!

    Reply
  6. Gavin Lee

    3 years ago

    I’m not going to put it in the article, but if anyone wonders why Bobby is so highly thought of in the hockey community, his farewell to Ottawa is a good example: link to twitter.com

    1
    Reply
    • MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

      3 years ago

      @Gaviin – Thanks for the link! I’ve also been a fan of the guy I refer to as Bobby “Puppy-Time” Ryan, for helping that little girl get her wish from her Dad that night. He has long had a reputation for being fan-friendly and great with the kids. I wish him and his family well in his post-NHL endeavors! Thanks, Bobby!

      Reply
    • MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

      3 years ago

      Another Errata on my part — I owe you one less “i”, Gavin! Sorry about that!

      Reply
    • MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

      3 years ago

      2nd Errata on my part! Bobby’s career isn’t necessarily over, yet. Sorry again, Bobby! Maybe an NHL team could use you somewhere in their lineup. OTT’s loss would be your gain…

      Reply
  7. Puckhead83

    3 years ago

    I hope he continues on his new sober life and gets to playing great hockey again. Best of luck to him.

    That said, I hope Donnie Sweeney doesn’t call his agent.

    1
    Reply
  8. kingsfan1968

    3 years ago

    Back to the Ducks!

    Reply
    • aloop

      3 years ago

      I’d like that, but that’s not happening. I’d imagine he wants to go somewhere where he has a chance at a Cup, and you and I both know that isn’t happening in Anaheim anytime soon.

      Reply
  9. FearTheWilson

    3 years ago

    He’ll sign with a Canadian team because he loves the snow.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Provorov As Part Of Three-Team Trade

    Anaheim Ducks Name Greg Cronin Head Coach

    Montreal Canadiens Extend Cole Caufield

    Mike Babcock Expected To Be Named Blue Jackets Head Coach

    Pittsburgh Penguins Name Kyle Dubas President Of Hockey Operations

    Toronto Maple Leafs Hire Brad Treliving

    Nashville Predators Expected To Fire John Hynes, Hire Andrew Brunette

    Washington Capitals Name Spencer Carbery Head Coach

    Calgary Flames Name Craig Conroy General Manager

    Kyle Dubas Will Not Return As Toronto GM

    Recent

    Islanders Notes: Bailey, Coaching Staff, Free Agents, Injury Updates

    Colorado Avalanche Extend Wyatt Aamodt

    Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Provorov As Part Of Three-Team Trade

    Dallas Stars Extend Fredrik Karlström

    Free Agent Focus: Ottawa Senators

    Calgary Flames Re-Sign Oscar Dansk

    Minor Transactions: 06/06/23

    Katey Stone Retires From Harvard Women’s Hockey Program

    Lawrence Pilut Signs In Switzerland

    Free Agent Focus: New York Rangers

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Coyotes Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version