ESPN’s Chris Peters weighs in on the Bobby Ryan signing

ESPN’s Chris Peters dissects the Red Wings’ signing of Bobby Ryan:

Bobby Ryan, LW, Detroit Red Wings

Terms: 1 year, $1 million

Where does he fit? The Red Wings are still in the rebuilding process, and Ryan works as a stop-gap forward to provide some veteran scoring help. He’ll also probably have a chance to play bigger minutes with the Red Wings than he would have anywhere else, likely in a middle-six role.

The Masterton Award winner for 2019-20, Ryan left the Senators in November to check himself into rehab to seek help for substance abuse. He returned to the team in February, scoring four goals and recording 22 shots on goal over the eight games prior to the league being shut down. He looked as good as he had in the last few seasons but was an easy buyout candidate for the Sens with two years remaining on his previous contract at a $7.25 million cap hit. Now he’ll have a chance at a fresh start.

Does it make sense? Ryan’s options to play a substantial role were limited. The Red Wings can provide some ice time and an opportunity to rejuvenate his career with a low-pressure, low-money deal. He’s not going to be the 30-goal scorer he was earlier in his career, but he does have nine seasons of 20 or more tallies. Without the weight of his albatross contract anymore, perhaps Ryan can open things up a little more with a young team that struggled mightily last season.

Grade: B-. For the Red Wings, it buys time to filter in their younger players over the next season-plus. It’s also a low-risk add of a player with a history of scoring in the NHL. Detroit desperately needed scorers, so why not take a chance on Ryan? Also, if he finds his scoring touch again, he would be an easily tradeable asset to a contender. — Peters

Update: The Hockey News’s Matt Larkin weighed in on both of the Wings’ signings:

DETROIT RED WINGS: RW Bobby Ryan signs a one-year, $1-million deal

THN’S TAKE: Ryan gets a fresh start on a rebuilding team. He spent the past season getting his life together and addressing his alcohol abuse issues, returned to the Ottawa Senators lineup with flair late in the season and won the Masterton Trophy for his perseverance and dedication to hockey. Ryan, 33, is far removed from his best years as a regular 30-goal scorer with the Anaheim Ducks, but he was still effective in spurts during his tenure with Ottawa and can be counted on for a double-digit goal total in a Detroit lineup that needs viable NHL players and revived Robby Fabbri’s career last season. Since Ryan’s contract is just for one year, he should be a flippable asset at the 2021 trade deadline for a Red Wings team still far away from contention. It’s a “prove it” season, and with Ryan’s personal life in its best place in a long time, he could have a nice comeback year. – Matt Larkin

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DETROIT RED WINGS: D Jon Merrill signs a one-year, $925,000 deal 

THN’S TAKE: Steve Yzerman continues to fill out Detroit’s depth with another one-year deal for a veteran who can be flipped later. Adding Merrill, 28, who plays a stay-at-home game, will force Detroit’s younger blueliners to earn roster spots rather than have them awarded by default. That bodes well for the Wings’ development plan. – Matt Larkin