Bobby Ryan Admits the Ottawa Senators Left Him in Shock

The Ottawa Senators made a decision after the latest season completed, it was time for change. Veteran Bobby Ryan found himself dead smack in the middle of it, as the Senators informed Ryan they would be buying out the remainder of his deal. The news left Ryan in shock.

Ryan recently met with Craig Custance from The Athletic and had this to say about the September news:

It was about a minute conversation. There’s really not much to say. What do you say, really? I said, 'OK, thank you, good luck' and that’s it. It came as a complete shock … It was not the call I expected on that Friday morning for sure.

I’ve always liked the people in Ottawa. I won’t say I ever truly fell in love with the city part of it. The people in the community are just incredible. I had so many ups and downs there. So many highs, like the playoffs. And lows, slumps, and last year. They always embraced me ... you never got the sense that they’d given up on you.

Ryan went on to sign with the Detroit Red Wings on a one-year deal for $1 million. The team is a young squad who will certainly lean on the leadership and mentorship of Ryan, who has played 833 career games.

The Senators will be paying $3.583 million in 2020-21 and '22 on the salary cap for Ryan's buy out, which then goes down to $1.83 million for the final two years.

Look for the 33-year-old Ryan to build off his numbers from last season which saw him finish with only eight points in 24 games. The Red Wings certainly hope that's the case. 

Photo credit: Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire