Bobby Ryan addresses fans following his arrest, makes no excuses for his actions
For those who may have missed it, late last night, former NHL star Bobby Ryan was arrested and jailed for public intoxication, erasing all of the progress he had made over the last couple of years to get himself clean.
Ryan was arrested in a Nashville airport bar shortly after reportedly shoplifting from an airport shop and abandoning the shoplifted items before stumbling into the bar and attempting to order a drink. When police had arrived, Ryan was not coherent and could not tell officers where he was or what the date or the time was.
After spending 8 hours in a Nashville jail, Ryan was released this morning and had the following message for his supporters, via Twitter:
-Bobby Ryan on his antics on Tuesday and how he vows to get himself back on track
During the 2018-19 season, Ryan revealed that he had been struggling with alcohol abuse and addiction. He entered into a program to help deal with his issues and made a comeback, which earned him a Bill Masterton Trophy.
Ryan was subsequently bought out in Ottawa the following summer and signed a 1-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings, playing 33 games and registering 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points.
If Ryan truly is committed to seeking help once again to get his alcohol abuse under control, good for him. It's a wise decision for an individual who can still have some pro hockey years ahead of him before he is set to retire.
Career aside, just on a human level, if the game or the lifestyle is no longer good for him, he'll need to put a lot of distance between it and himself to focus on getting straightened out. We wish Bobby all the best in his road to recovery.
