Advertisement

Senators' Bobby Ryan enters NHL's player assistance program

Bobby Ryan has entered the joint NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. (Getty)
Bobby Ryan has entered the joint NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. (Getty)

Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team after entering the NHL’s player assistance program.

The NHL and NHLPA released a joint statement on Wednesday:

“The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that forward Bobby Ryan of the Ottawa Senators will be away from the team while taking part in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.”

No further details were released at the time of this writing.

Ryan left practice early on Monday afternoon, with coach D.J. Smith telling reporters after the skate that the 32-year-old wasn’t feeling well, according to the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch. Ryan didn’t dress for the Sens’ 4-3 win over the Wings on Tuesday.

Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a statement on Wednesday:

“Bobby is an important member of the Ottawa Senators family and he has our full support as he tends to this matter,” Dorion wrote.

It’s been anything but an easy go of things for Ryan on the ice this season, as the team’s highest-paid player has been scratched for five of the Senators’ 21 contests, posting just one goal and three points in those 16 games.

Ryan was drafted second overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2005 and was acquired by the Senators via trade in July of 2013.

More NHL coverage from Yahoo Sports