The case for Bobby Ryan: It goes beyond the score sheet

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesLet’s face it — the Red Wings are in a tough spot headed into another season of rebuilding. The organization and fanbase are just now getting a first look at top prospects like Lucas Raymond, Jonatan Berggren (yes, he’s been sidelined but you get my point), among others. Many of these young players are getting their first taste of professional hockey in North America, and while there’s no doubt these players are bursting at the seams with skill, they have a lot of maturing to do. That’s where the importance of veteran leadership comes into play.

“We talk about the mentor role but I still think there’s a place in the game for a guy to kind of bridge that gap…