Gotta Read It: Bobby Ryan opens up about season and asks, “Why not us?”

Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan has had one of the most hot and cold season of any player in the entire NHL. The 30 year-old winger struggled through injuries and inconsistency to put up his lowest point total since his rookie season in 2007-08. But if his 13 goals and 25 points during the regular season was underwhelming, his 11 points in 13 playoff games has to be seen as a renaissance. 

In an illuminating article for The Players’ Tribune, Ryan asks the question that a lot of Sens’ fans are asking themselves these days, “Why not us?” Ryan recounts the frustration from his early season woes, where he couldn’t even go to the grocery store without receiving criticism from fans. He juxtaposes that with the current run the team is on where he’ll hear more enthusiastic and encouraging words from fans.

It’s a well-written and compelling article that not only brings light to Ryan’s personal story, but also what it’s like to be a hockey fan in Canada’s capital. The Senators get short-shrift in the hockey media landscape, so kudos to Ryan for helping us all see the passion of Ottawa hockey fans.