Quote:
Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden
Ryan has been to this point been a serviceable player in the right role. I still think that the jury is out for his value this season.
The biggest issue with Ryan is that he is over paid. A cap hit of $3.1M for a bottom six veteran is too much.
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Exactly.
He isn't "replacement level" that's just silly.
But he has the 194th highest cap hit in the NHL for forwards this year. With 31 teams that's guy number 6.5 on the average NHL roster.
He's not a guy just off the second line in Calgary. If he plays on the fourth line he's over paid. If he plays on the third line he's a little over paid.
But ... if you look at ice time, his PK work got him to the 6th spot in total ice time last year for Flames forwards.
Honestly the guy has been value as a free agent signing, and he's certainly one of the team's best 12 forwards to start the season. But if they could move him out (waiver loss) and free up some cap space they could make a bigger dent at the trade deadline.
Additionally, ... his passing waivers may make him more attractive on the trade front as the acquiring team could assign him to their taxi squad for a number of weeks.