He hasn't been that much better than any of them if at all.
He's going the way of Dany Heatley on a massive anchor of a contract. A budget team like Ottawa should thank their lucky stars if they can dump him before they have to buy him out
Watch out : Ryan is getting healthier... Scored only 1 goal in the last 2 games but could have easily had like 8 points (if Dzingel and Turris had more finish). Also scored in the shootout.
7 goals, 3 assists in last 16 games (51 pts pace but 36 goals pace)
If you don't count the 2 games where he left super early in the 1st period during the period when he was injured (but still played most games), he is on pace for 23 goals and 41 points... With 37 games left to play, he'd need to score 33 pts to finish with his usual 0.69 PPG pace
He scored 36 points in the first 40 games last season, so It's not beyond the realms of possibility
Phaneuf.... Oh yeah theyre teammates now
Phaneuf was an exceptional deal for Ottawa. Paid a 2nd and a marginal prospect for a guy that entirely solidified the defense. Yes, Phaneuf's cap hit is too high but it's a non issue for Ottawa as they haven't been a cap team in a decade. Financially, they have shed ~14 millions of undesired/dead salary the other way. If you subtract that money to the 34.5 that was still owed to Phaneuf for the 5.25 years left on the contract, it became a huge bargain for Ottawa.
(lol I might have to repeat this a million times before people finally get it)
It was a joke...hence the "lol" at the end
Hmmm ok... if you find
that funny lol