When the Detroit Red Wings open up the 2020-21 regular season, they will do so with quite a few new faces. One of those new faces is Bobby Ryan, who was signed by general manager Steve Yzerman during the offseason.
On Friday, the Red Wings opened up training camp, and following practice, Ryan spoke to the media about being on a new team, how he feels about the Wings’ chances this season, and about the “little jerk,” Dylan Larkin.
“I had a very, very small relationship with Lark, you know, through roller hockey,” Ryan said. “I knew his skill level, I just didn’t know the compete level was…I knew he was a little jerk to play against, excuse my language, but the compete level that he has in every drill, every 3-on-3 game we have been playing, his intensity, I guess, is overwhelming.”
When asked about how he is forming relationships with is new teammates off of the ice, Ryan told a story about how 3 or 4 days after arriving in Michigan, he booked a round of golf at Arcadia Bluffs with the intentions of driving up, playing a round, and then making the drive back. When he reached out to Larkin to ask about the area, Larkin called him back and told him he, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Robby Fabbri were going with him.
3 or 4 days after getting here, Bobby Ryan booked a round of golf at Arcadia Bluffs, planning to drive up, play, and drive back. He reached out to Dylan Larkin to ask about what was in that area, etc. Larkin called back in 20 minutes and said he, Bertuzzi and Fabbri were coming.
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 1, 2021
Make sure to watch the video below as Ryan also talks about how he thinks anything can happen when a team gets hot in a 57-game season.
After listing to Ryan speak, it won’t be long before he is a fan-favorite in Detroit.
He was always talented but I read so much about him being a jerk did not expect him to seem so nice a guy. Maybe the things he went through helped ground him. Hope he does well.