"Wait, what?" (credit:bridgetds, flickr.com)

Like the moon follows the sun and the summer follows the spring, once again the whispers (well, at least the twhispers of TSN’s Bob McKenzie ) are hinting that Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan has made it back to the trade block.  It’s not entirely surprising seeing that Ryan spent of most of this past season in then-coach Randy Carlyle’s doghouse, taking in the view from the third line.  When Carlyle left, Ryan found the pep in his step and GM Bob Murray decided to keep him.

But things have changed–namely the Rick Nash Sweepstakes. As mentioned by Sean Gentille of The Sporting News, Murray realized that the demands Nash is making on his suitors are ridiculous and shrewdly decided to offer up the versatile young American.  Ryan is younger than Nash, had better puck possession skills last season and most importantly sports a cap hit of $5.1 million until 2015 to Nash’s $7.8 million until 2018.  Seeing as the Ducks failed to make the postseason this year and how desperately other teams around the league are salivating for what Ryan can offer, Murray obviously knows now is the time to act.

The question remains: what will be better for Bobby Ryan? A new adventure? Or the devil you know?