NHL defenceman Ryan O鈥橞yrne of Victoria, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, brought the term 鈥渞ental player鈥� up himself during a telephone interview Wednesday after being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Colorado Avalanche.
Yet, it could also work into a long-term career in Toronto, depending on how the 28-year-old鈥檚 off-season negotiations develop.
Regardless, the six-foot-five O鈥橞yrne is jacked about going to a likely playoff-bound Maple Leafs team from an Avs team that wasn鈥檛 going anywhere this year.
鈥淭oronto is in the playoff mix and I鈥檓 excited about the prospect of playing in the post-season,鈥� said O鈥橞yrne, who was traded by Colorado in exchange for Toronto鈥檚 fourth-round draft pick in 2014.
The former Victoria Salsa (now Grizzlies) and Nanaimo Clippers junior can also now say he has played for both of the Canadian Original Six teams. O鈥橞yrne started his NHL career with Montreal following selection in the third round of the 2003 draft by the Canadiens.
鈥淎s in Montreal, there will be huge interest in the team among great [Toronto] fans who are hungry,鈥� said O鈥橞yrne, who runs a hockey camp in Victoria each summer with proceeds going to KidSport.
鈥淏oth the Canadiens and Maple Leafs are legendary teams and I鈥檓 lucky to have played for both.鈥�
But O鈥橞yrne acknowledges he is going from a regular rotation on the Colorado blue line to a Toronto team that now has 鈥渆ight good, NHL defencemen.鈥�
But there is a reason Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis wanted O鈥橞yrne and was glad he got him so cheaply.
鈥淭hey needed a big defenceman who can be physical and hard to play against and block shots,鈥� said O鈥橞yrne, who had a goal and four points and a minus-8 rating in 34 games this season for the woeful Avs. 鈥淭hey want me to play my role. They don鈥檛 want me to change anything.鈥�
O鈥橞yrne has played 300 career NHL regular-season games with four goals and 37 points and 363 penalty minutes. He has played in 19 NHL playoff games, all with Montreal.
The Colorado blue line still has an Island connection as Victoria鈥檚 Tyson Barrie is in his second season in Denver.
