Bobby Ryan Doesn’t Crack ESPN’s Top 100 Forwards

As a hockey news source, ESPN has some utility. Pierre Lebrun is generally regarded as one of the best in the business and occasionally, Craig Custance will put out some Sens-centric piece that is worthy of a read and with the addition of Corey Pronman as a full-time prospect evaluator is invaluable in itself, there is some value to be had investing in an ESPN Insider’s account…

But, and here’s the but, with the release of its Top 100 NHL Forwards list, the WWL is doing itself no favours in building up equity with Canadian hockey fans.

Four Senators did crack the list – Jason Spezza (33), Kyle Turris (68), Milan Michalek (71) and Mika Zibanejad (94) – but the omission of Bobby Ryan is glaring. He who has scored the 14th most goals in the NHL the last five seasons, that guy.

Other players deemed superior:

#47 Andrew Ladd
#64 David Clarkson
#85 Michael Ryder
#87 Derrick Brassard
#90 Troy Brouwer
#93 Jiri Tlusty
#99 Brenden Morrow
#100 Sven Baertschi
 
Not to mention them naming Ottawa's first round pick in 2014 the 46th best forward in the NHL…damn that's cold.
 
Obviously this is going to create some unbridled angst and angry fist-shaking towards ESPN, but remember Ottawa (mostly Westboro), people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. You didn’t recognize Ryan either.

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