Borocop off to Nashville, Ryan flies coop to Wings

Longtime Senators choose new teams on free-agent Friday, writes Bruce Garrioch

The Borocop will be patrolling the blue-line for the Nashville Predators.

Former Ottawa defenceman Mark Borowiecki, who made the decision to test the unrestricted free agent market last month, signed a two-year deal with the Nashville Predators worth US$2 million per season.

According to Borowiecki's agent Steve Bartlett, six or seven teams showed interest in Borowiecki before he made the decision to sign with the Predators.

“One of our objectives at the start of free agency was to improve our depth at defence and Mark's signing goes a long way toward accomplishing that,” Nashville general manager David Poile said in a statement. “He adds an element of toughness that we were missing on the back end, as well as being a natural leader and strong penalty-killer.”

An Ottawa native, Borowiecki was a fifth-round pick of the Senators in the 2008 NHL draft. One of the club's alternate captains last season, Borowiecki will be missed here but fans will be happy he's found a new home. He and his wife, Tara, were active in the community.

After the signing, Borowiecki posted a picture of his infant child Miles wearing a Predators hat with his dog on the couch at his home outside Ottawa. He also posted a thank-you note to the Senators on Instagram.

Speaking on TSN later in the day, Borowiecki thanked the people of Ottawa when host James Duthie offered the opportunity.

“It's not just my playing time here, I was born and raised here,” Borowiecki said. “Thirty-one years, my wife as well and my son was born here. There's too many memories to recount. I'm just thankful for the City of Ottawa and the people here to give a safe, amazing place to grow up, develop and mature as a person.

“It's always going to have a place in our hearts.”

OFF TO MOTOWN

Former Ottawa winger Bobby Ryan, bought out by the club last month, agreed to a one-year, $1-million deal with the Red Wings.

Ryan, 32, told Postmedia in a text message a phone call with Detroit GM Steve Yzerman made all the difference. He had a lot of interest from other teams but felt the Wings were the right fit.

Ryan said on a conference call later in the day he had a 45-minute talk with Yzerman and it just felt right.

“It left me with the impression it was the right fit without knowing what else was out there,” Ryan said. “It didn't feel like it was going to matter. It was where I wanted to be, based on the conversation, and the passion that just comes through for the Red Wings from him is contagious.

“I left (the meeting), walked out of the room and told my wife (Danielle) I think we're signing in Detroit and that I would go through the process like I should, but I somehow didn't need to hear anything else from anybody.”

Ryan bravely told his story of his battle with alcoholism because he wanted to help others and he was the Masterton Trophy winner. After being bought out by the Senators, he told this newspaper he was disappointed he “wouldn't be able to pay it forward” for this fan base after all the support he received when he returned to the lineup in December.

This is an opportunity for a fresh start.

“I thought I'd be upset for longer with the way things ended in Ottawa,” Ryan said. “But it was my wife, who just finally said, `Listen, you're going to get an opportunity for the first time in your career to dictate where you live and where you go play next.' I don't think that had dawned on me.