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Bobby Ryan has struggled since Olympic snub

Ottawa Senators v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 1: Bobby Ryan #6 of the Ottawa Senators skates in the warm-up prior to playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on February 1, 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Senators 6-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Claus Andersen

The fact that Bobby Ryan was kept off of Team USA was noteworthy by itself, but it only set the table for the storm that followed.

An ESPN report revealed that members of the United States selection’ committee had some serious concerns about the Ottawa Senators forward, including Calgary Flames president Brian Burke’s remark that Ryan “can’t spell intense.”

In the aftermath of that Ryan called Burke gutless and USA GM David Poile apologized to Ryan.

Ultimately, the best counterargument Ryan could have offered would have been a hot streak, but instead he’s going through his worst patch of the campaign with two goals and six points in 18 contests.

“We’re not concerned about it at all,” Senators coach Paul MacLean insisted, according to the Ottawa Citizen. “(Ryan) has to keep working at it. He had five, six, seven or eight (shot) attempts (in Thursday’s 3-2 win over Buffalo). They’re going to go in. It’s a matter of time.”

Unfortunately time isn’t on the 26-year-old forward’s side. He’ll play at 3:00 p.m. ET today against Boston and then he’ll start his vacation.

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