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Ottawa Senators and Bobby Ryan could be ready to separate

By James Reeve

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 23: Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan (9) applies pressure on the forecheck during third period National Hockey League action between the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators on October 23, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 23: Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan (9) applies pressure on the forecheck during third period National Hockey League action between the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators on October 23, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The ongoing saga between the Ottawa Senators and veteran forward Bobby Ryan appears to be heading in one direction, that of a separation between the two parties.

With just under two more seasons left on his contract, Bobby Ryan‘s time with the Ottawa Senators looks to be heading for an early separation after finding him out of favour with head coach D.J. Smith.

Smith recently commented on his team selection, implying that Ryan had not impressed him with his effort, seeing the 32-year-old left out of the line-up.

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Ryan’s $7.25 million cap hit has been a point of contention for a while now, with the former Anaheim Ducks star reaching the 20-goal mark just once since signing the deal with the Senators back in 2015.

With Ryan having to wait for another opportunity to get back into the line-up, it appears general manager Pierre Dorion is already working on finding a new home for the winger.

According to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun, Dorion is working alongside Ryan’s agent to see if there is a potential trade partner out there.

"“Behind the scenes, of course, general manager Pierre Dorion and Ryan’s agents are exploring any and all opportunities for a new NHL home for Ryan.” – Ken Warren, Ottawa Sun."

Ryan’s large cap hit is likely to be the biggest stumbling block in any potential trade negotiations, so the Ottawa Senators may need to retain a significant chunk in order to push something through.

With Ryan locked up until 2022, the Senators may need to retain close to the 50% maximum allowed in order to persuade another team in the NHL to take the American.

Ryan has shown that he can still contribute offensively and even had a ‘bounce-back’ season in 2018/19 with 15 goals and 42 total points in 78 games.

At $7.25 million, that isn’t enough production, but if a team was offered him for around $3.5 to $4 million, then that may be far more palatable.

There are still plenty of questions surrounding Ryan’s future in the Canadian capital and there is still the possibility that he returns to the ice and wins back the favour of Smith.

In the long-run, however, the Senators may prefer to get the very best assets they can for the winger right now instead of keeping around longer.

While a deal may not be forthcoming at this stage of the season, it may be worth keeping a close eye on the trade deadline to see if something gets done.

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What do you think Sens fans? Would you be happy to see Ryan traded for assets? What if the team has to retain a significant amount of his salary? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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