Ryan not worried about expansion draft: 'Are they going to take $7 million? No'
Bobby Ryan's lucrative paycheck might keep him out of Vegas, at least for hockey reasons.
The Ottawa Senators forward spoke to reporters at the team's locker clean out on Saturday and admitted he isn't worried about being selected by the Golden Knights in the impending expansion draft due to his hefty salary.
Bobby Ryan says he isn't worried about expansion draft. "Are they going to take 7 million? No," he said with a laugh. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) May 27, 2017
After a dismal regular season that saw Ryan collect just 13 goals and 25 points in 62 games, many felt that he would be a prime candidate to be left unprotected in the expansion draft.
However, Ryan turned his game around in the postseason, collecting six goals and 15 points in 19 contests, including three game-winning goals.
While he did turn things around, Ryan could be right about his undesirable contract. He remains signed for the next five years with an annual cap hit of $7.25 million. Even if he goes unprotected by the Sens, for a Golden Knights team just starting out, his contract appears to be too steep and onerous.
Expect Ryan back in a Senators jersey next season.