Bobby Ryan is a Calder candidate.

For three years, the Ducks and Ryan endured the tease: Who was drafted second behind Sidney Crosby in 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 since Luc Robitaille in 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 behind Corey Perry's 32 goals.

Coach Randy Carlyle moved 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.