RYAN TRYING FOR THIRTY
Forward looks to score more
Nobody has higher expectations for Bobby Ryan than he has for himself.
As the Senators prepare to wrap up camp with their final exhibition game against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night at the Canadian Tire Centre, the Ottawa winger is bound and determined to be a consistent performer this season — one that could be possibly even chip in 30 goals.
While that might sound like a lofty number for Ryan, who hasn’t scored 30 since his final full season with the Anaheim Ducks in 2011-12, he’d like to see if he can get back to being that kind of player after potting 22 goals last season, 18 in 2014-15 and 23 in 2013-14, his first year with the Senators.
Judging by camp, Ryan is headed in the right direction and like everybody else he’s getting a fresh start under coach Guy Boucher and the new staff. Boucher outlined his expectations to Ryan before the start of the year.
“He said, ‘We’ve got to get you healthy and we’ve got to get you through the year healthy.’ He takes it as a challenge to challenge each individual and make that person a better player,” Ryan said Thursday.
“For me, it’s getting back into that conversation around 30 goals and just not having a 20-game slump or whatever it might be. You’re going to have a little one at some point, but for him and I, you’re going to have weather through it and handle the storm. That’s the message.”
There’s no question whatever they told Ryan in the off-season, he took it to heart.
Boucher is the kind of guy who isn’t going to dwell on the past, so whatever anybody told him happened with Ryan before the new coaching staff arrived has been wiped off the board. He feels good about the way he’s played so far and so do the Senators.
“I think I’ve had a nice camp,” Ryan said. “No. 1, you want to be healthy through (the season) and that’s clutch. It was a different kind of camp. You have a new coach, you’re learning new systems and everything is being applied.
“You’re basically wiping the slate clean and everything is new again. I felt like, personally, I’ve grasped a lot of what he’s been preaching the last little while and I’ve tried to apply that. I hope if you were to ask him, he would feel the same way about it, but I’m getting there with some of it.”
Boucher has been pleased with Ryan and chemistry he’s developed with newly-acquired centre Derick Brassard. It’s no coincidence the duo forms the first power play unit with Mark Stone on the right side while Mike Hoffman and Erik Karlsson are at the points.
“I’ve really liked what I’ve seen right now with Bobby,” Boucher said.
“He fits perfectly with Brassard. That’s what we were hoping. They click very well. (Ryan) has been unbelievable on the power play, so I really like what we’ve got.”
Ryan has felt comfortable with Brassard.
“Yeah, it’s (working),” said Ryan. “It’s just so easy. He’s been around a long time and he just makes plays that I felt we were lacking last year — myself included.
“He’s got a composure about him. He creates space and you know (when) there’s pucks that he’s going to come up with them.
“There’s still some things where we’ve been off, but we’ve looked at each other and we say, ‘Okay, now we’ve got it.’ That’s trial and error more than anything. It’s been really good and I’m really excited about what we’ve done this year.”
Asked if he needed Brassard to score 30 goals again, Ryan didn’t deny it.
“I’m not going to say yes or no ... Probably,” Ryan said.
“It’s certainly not going to be a detriment. He’s going to get me the puck in areas and get it to me where I can get back to shooting.
“You set individual goals and to be in that conversation of scoring 30 goals is generally where I want to be. You don’t go on 20-game goalless streaks.
“Brass has been around a long time and he’s going able to make plays at high speeds that getting into March is going to be the difference for me. When I’m playing with a guy that’s been around for 10 years in March, I’m hoping that’s a difference.”
If Ryan is a consistent contributor all season, the Senators will have a good chance of hosting a playoff game in April.