Anaheim Ducks and Bobby Ryan agree to five-year deal
Reports indicate that the Anaheim Ducks and Bobby Ryan have agreed to a five-year deal worth $25.5 million. The deal is for a figure slightly higher than $25 million five-year deal that Ryan reportedly turned down earlier in the summer.
Ryan and his agent Don Meehan were looking to sign a shorter-term deal with the Ducks. Reports stated that Ryan, 23, wanted to sign nothing longer than a three-year contract with the hockey club. By signing the five-year deal, Ryan gives up some potential years of free agency.
With the signing, the Ducks have locked up their three core young forwards, Ryan, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf through the 2013 season. The combined salary cap hit for the three players is $15 million per year.
Ryan showed some understanding of his situation early in the summer when he stated that he did not want to be paid as well as Perry and Getzlaf, “I completely understand that nobody makes more than Getzlaf and Perry. I have no problem with that. I never expected that. I know those are the two guys and we build from there.”
Perry and Getzlaf are both playing on five-year contract extensions, both with the same salary cap hit of $5.325 million per year. For the upcoming season, Perry will be paid $5.375 million and Getzlaf $5.125 million. Ryan’s deal is reportedly for $3.25 million for next season, followed by four seasons at $5,562,250. Ryan’s pay will exceed that of Perry and Getzlaf over the next two seasons, but his average salary over the course of the deal will be for less.
Over his three year NHL career Ryan has played in 168 games, scoring 71 goals and 60 assists. He finished the 2010 season third in scoring for the Ducks, behind Perry and Getzlaf, with 64 points.
The deal between Ryan and the Ducks comes only three days before players are due to report to training camp.
Tags: