There's no shame in being No. 2, particularly if Sidney Crosby is No. 1.

Ryan may have been selected behind the heavily hyped Crosby in the 2005 NHL Draft, but expectations were still quite high for the Collingswood, New Jersey, product when he was taken by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, as they were then known.

At 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, Ryan had impressed scouts with his size, power, scoring touch and skating ability. Rather than join USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, he played for Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League from 2003-07, finishing with 89, 95 and 102 points in his final three seasons there.

Ryan split 2007-08 between Anaheim and its American Hockey League affiliate, Portland, scoring five goals and 10 points in 23 games for the Ducks. He followed that with the first of four straight 30-goal seasons, scoring 57 points and finishing as runner-up to Steve Mason in voting for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top rookie. The 57 points set a Ducks rookie record.

On Jan. 8, 2009, Ryan had a natural hat trick in a 4-3 at the Los Angeles Kings, becoming the first Ducks rookie to score three goals in a game.

In six seasons with the Ducks, Ryan had 289 points (147 goals, 142 assists) in 378 games. He also scored 15 points (10 goals, five assists) in 26 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Anaheim.

On July 5, 2013, the Ottawa Senators acquired Ryan in a trade with Anaheim, and the veteran continued to be productive, earning a seven-year contract extension in 2014.

Ryan had 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) and played in the NHL All-Star Game for the first time in 2014-15.

In his first six seasons in Ottawa, Ryan had 258 points (102 goals, 156 assists) in 431 games. He continued to be a productive playoff performer, scoring two goals in the Senators' six-game first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens in 2015 and then 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 19 games to help the Senators reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2017.

Ryan won the Bill Masterton Trophy as the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey in 2019-20. He took an extended leave of absence from the Senators in November 2019 to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, citing issues with alcohol abuse. Ryan returned against the Nashville Predators on Feb. 25, and two days later scored a hat trick in his first home game back, a 5-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• OHL First All-Star Team (2005)
• AHL All-Rookie Team (2008)
• NHL All-Rookie Team (2009)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2015)
• Signed as a free agent by Mora (Sweden-2), November 21, 2012.
• Traded to Ottawa by Anaheim for Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen and Ottawa's 1st round pick (Nick Ritchie) in 2014 NHL Draft, July 5, 2013.
• Signed as a free agent by Detroit, October 9, 2020.