It's incredible how insulting and disrespectful people can be behind the anonymity of the internet. It reeks of young people emotionally frustrated that just use this tool to vent.
I don't think you could tell those things (not just this post) to people in the world of hockey with a straight face outside of the internet. I also wouldn't believe if you told me that put a lot of thought into this.
Ryan started his NHL career in 2007-08, let's take a look at some stats
outside of junior since (among active forwards) :
- 25th in Shootouts Goals with 21
- He scores on 34% of his shootouts attempts. Believe me, it's more than the vast majority of NHL players who are given the opportunity to take a SO shot.
- 35th in Total Points with 505
- 31st for Even Strength Points with 379
- 42nd best PPG among active forwards with at least 400 NHL Games.
But yeah, great in junior but not in the NHL
Let's look at every season to see where his PPG was ranked among forwards with at least 62 games (lowest he played outside of his rookie season and the lockout year. I'll do a proportion for 2012-13)
2008-09 : 20th (0.89)
2009-10 : 33rd (0.79)
2010-11 : 23rd (0.87)
2011-12 : 53rd (0.70)
2012-13 : 60th (0.65)
2013-14 : 63rd (0.69)
2014-15 : 58th (0.69)
2015-16 : 63rd (0.69)
2016-17 : 179th (0.40)
2017-18 : 142nd (0.53)
30 teams
1st to 90th : 1st line production (45th is the median)
91st to 180th : 2nd line production (135th is the median)
181st to 270th : 3rd line production (225th is the median)
Bobby Ryan was a 2nd OA pick, peaked really early and was an Elite forward in his first 3 years, then a 1st line forward in his next 5 years and finally a low end 2nd liner in his last 2 years (when healthy). Ryan is NOT a power forward, he is a skill/finesse player who had a really good shot before the rash of injuries. Since his shot is not as dangerous as before, he has to rely mostly on playmaking, dekes and IQ/vision.
It's not surprising to see a player decline with age and injuries. That's exactly how NHL players (and sports athletes in general) decline... If you have followed the NHL for years and don't know that by now... I really don't know what to tell you
Ryan signed his contract October 2, 2014
3 seasons before : 0.70, 0.65 and 0.69 PPG
2 seasons after : 0.69 and 0.69 PPG
How do you explain that? He "welcomes" the injuries?
The "warriors" like you say are extremely rare. I can only think of Bergeron and Crosby (who are among the elite of the elite) who went through significant injuries but were able to go back to their level of excellence. Most of the time, careers get derailed by injuries. On top of my head : Michalek, Havlat, Gaborik, Spezza, Healtey, Ryan, Arvedson, MacArthur, Cowen.... Look at Zetterberg this year, Corey Perry, Shea Weber... so many good/great players who decline in a hurry because of injuries. Do you need to see a list? It's countless.
Ryan is also a warrior I guess because he fights through it and always come back, and even play through those injuries (as it has been reported many times before), the only thing is that it is extremely foolish to expect him to EXCEL like he did during his peak...