FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-Bobby Ryan arrived in this city with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Although it probably took him a couple years to realize it. In the aftermath of Daniel Alfredsson’s departure, the late Bryan Murray made a Hail-Mary of a trade, acquiring Bobby Ryan from the Ducks, attempting to fill the void left by the best player in franchise history. There was suddenly money to spend and a desperate need for a distraction in a city that had just lost a fan favourite. In the days after the deal, the words “Coming in Hot” were forever linked to Ryan. What always amazed me about that time was the way Bobby fully and completed embraced the Ottawa market. For an American guy, moving from Anaheim to Ottawa can’t have been easy but Bobby jumped in with both feet. He instantly made an effort to connect to the community and it’s a big part of why he’s become a fan favourite.
-Yet for all the excitement that came with his arrival in Ottawa, the Bobby Ryan era has never been easy. Saddled with the expectations of that long-term deal and fighting an off-ice battle none of us really knew about, Bobby Ryan never seemed to meet the level that was expected of a high end offensive talent. Anytime he’s in the line up, he’s one of the most skilled guys on the ice and his production has actually been fairly steady, but injuries and lengthy slumps have been common throughout his time in Ottawa. That was until those magical two months in 2017 when we all met Playoff Bobby. A force of nature, Ryan was Ottawa’s best forward during that run to the Eastern Conference finals. From that moment on all, and actually since he arrived in this city, Bobby Ryan has been one of those guys you can’t help but root for.
-Clarke MacArthur’s playoff goal. Craig Anderson’s shutout in Edmonton. And now Bobby Ryan’s hat trick. Moments that will go down in Sens history. If you allow your sports fandom to be defined by wins and by championships, you end up missing a lot of the best stuff along the way. Those unique times where real life and sports intersect and where we are reminded why we do this in the first place. Where you find yourself clapping in the middle of an empty living room yet you feel connected to the building, to the person, to the city around you and to the moment. When he scored the first one, it was fitting. When he scored again, it was incredible. And when he scored the third one, and the crowd chanted his name while he teared up on the bench, it was perfect. Moments like that are what it’s all about.
-In all the moves of the last few years, Bobby Ryan has sort of become the forgotten veteran in the Ottawa line up. Watching him the last couple games though, you can’t help but wonder if maybe Bobby Ryan ends up being a key piece in what Ottawa is building here. A well-liked veteran presence that the young guys can look up to. A guy who has faced adversity both on the ice and away from the rink and come out stronger on the other side. Someone who loves the team, loves the city and is loved right back. Last night was special but you can’t help but feel there might be more moments of Bobby Ryan magic in the future. The hands are healthy, the legs are back and the mind is clear. When all that is in place, Bobby Ryan still looks like a damn good hockey player.
-What really struck me about last night was the impact it seemed to have on a fan base that has been desperately looking for reasons to feel that connection to the team again. In the moments after the third goal, I couldn’t help but notice the reemergence of many twitter accounts that have gone silent over the last couple years. Apathy is a word that gets tossed around a lot these days and it’s a legitimate concern in this market. I don’t buy it though. Everyone just wants to feel that connection again. And for a moment anyway, it was clear that we all felt it. Ownership, trades and sagging attendance- for a couple hours, none of it mattered. That bond between the Senators and this city can’t be broken. Tested maybe. Pushed to the limit even. But not broken. Thanks Bobby. We needed that too.
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