Bobby Ryan is a Calder candidate.

But you knew that already, right?


This time it’s official. Check out this story on NHL.com and vote for him in the Internet Calder e-balloting.


Here’s the excerpt on Ryan:


For three years, the Ducks and Ryan endured the tease: Who was drafted second behindSidney Crosbyin the 2005 Entry Draft and where is he now? Ryan followed the normal progression of two more junior seasons and a year in the AHL.


Now, he’s the first West Coast player to lead the NHL rookie scoring race sinceLuc Robitaillein 1986-87. Ryan led all NHL rookies with 31 goals and 57 points, and he spotted the field 18 games. Ryan had to start the season in the AHL because the Ducks couldn’t fit him into their salary cap.


After producing 5 goals and 10 points in 23 games with the Ducks a year ago, Ryan underwent an intensive summer conditioning program, dropping his body fat from 19 to 7 percent and shedding 20 pounds to 207. He also eliminated the high-risk elements of his game to become a reliable two-way player.


Ryan is a powerful 6-foot-2 winger and he plays a skilled game. He had an impressive 17.8 shooting percentage from 174 shots. Ryan led the Ducks with a plus-13 rating and 12 power-play goals, 17th in the NHL. He was 27th in goals and second on the Ducks behindCorey Perry’s32 goals.


CoachRandy Carlylemoved Ryan around the lineup, mostly second- and third-line shifts in the beginning, as well as left and right wing, before giving him increased responsibilities. Ryan wound up playing left wing on the first line with Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.


The Ducks were 12th in the Western Conference with 10 games to go but got strong performances from the top line down the stretch. Getzlaf had 14 points, Perry 13, and Ryan had 11, including seven goals.

This entry was posted in Anaheim Ducks/NHL by J.P. Hoornstra. Bookmark the permalink.

About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.

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