Red Wings: Forward Bobby Ryan Signed to a Professional Tryout

The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Bobby Ryan to a professional tryout. The move comes a day before the start of Detroit’s training camp.

Ryan started hot in his first year in Detroit last season, but injuries near the deadline cut it short. He played in 33 games, scoring seven goals and seven assists. Ryan fit in comfortably among the middle six of the team, finding some success pushing the offense forward.

Ryan wasn’t one of the unrestricted free agents re-signed to an extension, but the tryout gives him a shot to prove himself a worthy competitor on an improved roster.

Training camp should be relatively competitive for Ryan, as the Red Wings have plenty of talent coming through the pipeline. However, he’ll head in with the distinct advantage of years of NHL – this will be his 15th year in the pros.

There’s also the opportunity to acquire more draft picks at the deadline. Ryan garnered a decent amount of attention from the league for his solid season with the Wings. If not for an injury right before the deadline, Ryan likely would’ve been shipped off for some future assets. If he starts as strong as he did last year, he can become a name on the trading block again.

The best way to find a role with the team this year will be to build chemistry with the prospects in camp. If Ryan finds some success on a line centered by Joe Veleno or on the wing opposite to Lucas Raymond, Steve Yzerman could sign him as the classic veteran presence to guide the youth. Yzerman already acquired Nick Leddy for Moritz Seider; Ryan has the chance to become that mentor for one of the talented young forwards.

This is yet another move to make training camp just a little more competitive. While the prospect pool is quite deep at forward, there are certainly some vulnerable spots on the current roster. Vladislav Namestnikov and Sam Gagner are two bottom/middle-six forwards that could very well be pushed out by Ryan.

With the success Ryan had last year in Detroit and his overall NHL experience, there’s a good chance he’ll make the Red Wings roster. The real question is, what role does he find with the team? Can he step up as a mentor or just a goalscorer?