not a bad idea. as an isles fan, i'd do that trade but i'd want another pick back w/ patch.

4 first fount picks ain't bad.

No way Ottawa does that deal.

I'd much rather have Ryan @ 7.25 x 4 years than Alzner @ $4,625,000 x 4 years so no way I'm lowering my 22nd OA pick

Ryan when healthy is still a good player. Here's a post I made on HF :


Playoffs

2nd in scoring on the team since 2013-14 with 8 goals, 17 pts in 25 games (Karlsson is 1st with 3 goals, 22 pts in 25 games). Tied 1st in goals with Pageau

http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggregate=1&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20132014&seasonTo=20172018&gameType=3&playerPlayedFor=team.9&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,assists

Regular Season

Tied 4th in scoring on the team (with Turris) since 2013-14 with 87 goals, 216 pts in 353 games. Karlsson is 1st with 83 goals, 355 pts in 394 games. Stone is 2nd with 95 goals, 249 pts in 303 games, Hoffman is 3rd with 107 goals, 230 pts in 338 games

http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggregate=1&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20132014&seasonTo=20172018&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=team.9&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,assists

5th in PPG for players with more than 75 games (behind Karlsson, Stone, Turris and Hoffman)

I understand getting rid of Ryan's contract but there's no urge to do it if it is true that Melnyk sells the team and they suddenly spend to the cap (no more tight budget?). I don't see the point of getting rid of your 4th/5th best forward UNTIL we have better NEW forwards (Brown? Batherson? White? Chlapik? Formenton? 4th oA pick? FA? Trade?)

So yes there could be a financial advantage to get rid of Ryan's contract but keep in mind that you need to replace him with a top-6 forward (if not, what's the point?) and those don't come cheap.

EDIT : even if you only look at the last 2 years, which were Ryan 2 worst seasons in the NHL (injury-plagued), only 4 forwards came up with a better PPG (Stone, Hoffman, Turris and Brassard) and 2 of them are gone with Duchene now on the team.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggregate=1&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20162017&seasonTo=20172018&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=team.9&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,80&sort=pointsPerGame

So for now, there's only 3 forwards who are clearly better and more productive (Duchene, Stone and Hoffman). Dzingel is right there but before "getting rid" of Ryan, show me at least 2 other better forwards.