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Ottawa Senators: Three Players Who Need to be Better

By Joshua Delorme

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 21: Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith looks on from the bench during the game between the Ottawa Senators and the Dallas Stars on October 21, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Steve Nurenberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 21: Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith looks on from the bench during the game between the Ottawa Senators and the Dallas Stars on October 21, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Steve Nurenberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ABBOTSFORD, BC – SEPTEMBER 23: Right Wing Bobby Ryan (9) celebrates with teammates his opening goal during their NHL preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Abbotsford Events & Sports Centre on September 23, 2019 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.(Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ABBOTSFORD, BC – SEPTEMBER 23: Right Wing Bobby Ryan (9) celebrates with teammates his opening goal during their NHL preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Abbotsford Events & Sports Centre on September 23, 2019 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.(Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Bobby Ryan

Now before I begin harping on how better Bobby Ryan needs to be, I want to issue this slight disclaimer: Bobby Ryan has been one of my favourite players ever since he came into the league. I also want to put it out there that I am fully aware that the game has passed him by and he struggles to keep up with the pace of the play.

Bobby Ryan has been a healthy scratch more times than not as of late. One of the biggest reasons for his lack of playing time lately has been his inability to keep up with the pace of play. Coach DJ Smith has said from the beginning that the Senators were going to be a team that was going to play fast and hard, and Bobby Ryan simply, and unfortunately for me, cannot keep up with a fast-paced game.

With that being said, I still believe that there is a role for Ryan on the Senators. Ryan should still have some offensive abilities and I think that is what the coaching staff would love the most out of him. The Senators are a team that struggles to score goals, simply because they lack the high-end talent to score those goals.

The Senators need Bobby Ryan to help them produce offensively, even if it only is on the powerplay. Maybe this is just my blind love for the player, but I think he should be able to transform himself into a powerplay specialist on this team. Clearly the coaching staff does not want to put him out there for too many five-on-five minutes, but I think he can still help the Senators on the man advantage.

Related Story. Senators and Bobby Ryan could be ready to separate. light

Simply put, the Senators need Bobby Ryan to at the very least help them with some offensive production. Even if that production primarily comes on the powerplay. The team has really struggled with their man advantage play, and Ryan should be a forward for the coaching staff to rely on when it comes to powerplay scoring.

In the end, I don’t think there will ever be anything that will change my mind on Bobby Ryan. I will continue loving him for no concrete reason and I am totally fine with that!

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