Downie was a bust and, with Steve Eminger, was traded to Tampa Bay in the November deal for Matt Carle.
As for Ryan?
Clarke's instincts were correct. The 21-year-old is blossoming into one of the NHL's most talented young players.
Recalled from Iowa in the AHL on Nov. 15, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound Ryan has six goals and 12 assists in 20 games with the Ducks. Ryan, who had five goals and five assists in 23 games with Anaheim last year, already is playing on the Ducks' power play.
Overall, he is second on the team at plus-11. Anaheim (19-15-4), a defense-oriented team, is led by center Ryan Getzlaf (42 points), one of just two Ducks who have reached double figures in goals. The Flyers have six double-figure goal scorers, led by Jeff Carter (27).
Flyers coach John Stevens is familiar with Ryan, having skated with him when the teenager was growing up in South Jersey and occasionally worked out with the AHL's Phantoms.
"I'm happy to see him doing so well," Stevens said. "I think the power play is his game. He's got great hands for a big man, and he's strong on the puck, and he sees the ice really well. That's the part of his game that is really going to be expected of him."
Ryan was known as Bobby Stevenson when he spent his youth in Cherry Hill. His mother will be at tonight's game.
With a win, the Flyers (20-10-7) would tie the New York Rangers for first place in the Atlantic Division. That's not bad considering that the Flyers started the season 0-3-3.
Since then, they are 20-7-4, including 1-2 on this trip.
Giroux's big chance. With Simon Gagne expected to miss the next three games because of a strained shoulder, rookie winger Claude Giroux will get a chance to shine for the Flyers. Giroux, who will turn 21 on Jan. 12, is expected to be on the top line with Mike Richards and Mike Knuble tonight.
