Second Round (#45 Overall): Ryan Spooner
After another long wait, the Boston Bruins finally stumbled upon their next pick. At 45th overall, the Bruins decided to take Peterborough Petes center, Ryan Spooner. Spooner posted 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points in 47 games in his draft year. He added 3 playoff games with 1 assist. Chris Edwards of Central Scouting Services had this to say on the Petes young centerman:
“He’s a solid guy, he battles and competes and gets involved. He’s grittier than some other guys. He plays with good energy, he’s up and down. He skates very well and has a good skill set.”
Petes head coach at the time, Ken McRae, also added this:
“Ryan has been a very dynamic player for us over the past two seasons. He is very strong on the puck and is very elusive down low in the offensive zone avoiding and escaping his check. His ability to play all 200 feet of the ice has improved each season. He is our go-to guy when a big goal or play is needed.”
Following the draft, Spooner stuck in the OHL with Peterborough. However, his stay was shortened. He played 14 games with 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points, before being dealt to the Kingston Frontenacs.
There, he played 50 games with 25 goals and 37 assists for 62 points. His season total was 35 goals and 46 assists for 81 points in 64 games. Pretty good numbers, if you ask me. He then added 4 goals and 2 assists for 6 points in 5 playoff games.
Also during that season, Spooner was granted a 3-game stint with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, recording 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points.
In the 2011-12 season, Spooner was again traded by his OHL team. He played 27 games with the Frontenacs with 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points, before being dealt to the Sarnia Sting. With Sarnia, he played 30 games with 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points. His season total landed at 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points in 57 games.
He yet again got an opportunity with Providence, playing 5 games, scoring a goal and 3 assists for 4 points. In 2012-13, he was in Providence to stay. He impressed with 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points in 59 games. He impressed enough to earn a call-up to the Boston Bruins, playing 4 games, but recording no points. He then played in 12 AHL playoff games, with 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points to show for it.
In 2013-14, he yet again impressed in AHL regular-season action. He recorded 11 goals and 35 assists for 46 points in 49 games played, earning another NHL call-up. This time, he played in 23 games, with 11 assists. However, he was sent back down and played 12 playoff games with 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points.
In 2014-15, Spooner started the year with the Boston Bruins. Playing in 29 games, he had 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points. However, it was not enough to stick, as he was sent back to Providence. There, he played 34 games with 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points. In 5 AHL playoff games, he recorded 4 assists.
In 2015-16, he secured a spot on the Boston Bruins squad and this time held it for the whole season. He played 80 games with 13 goals and 36 assists for 49 points. Unfortunately, the Bruins missed the postseason that year, and that ended Spooner’s first real season at the NHL level.
In 2016-17 marked Spooner’s final full year in the Bruins organization. He played 78 games with Boston, recording 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points, a step back from the season prior. This time, he played NHL postseason hockey, with 2 assists in 4 games.
In 2017-18, Spooner played 39 games with the Boston Bruins, with 9 goals and 16 assists for 25 points. After that 39th game, he was traded along with two others and two picks for Rick Nash of the Rangers. He finished that year with 20 games as a Ranger with 4 goals and 12 assists for 16 points. His season total grew to 59 games played with 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points.
In 2018-19, Spooner scored a goal and an assist for 2 points in 16 games with the Rangers, before being dealt to the Oilers for Ryan Strome. He played 25 games as an Oiler, with 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points.
He was sent down to the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, Bakersfield Condors, where he played 7 games with 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points. He was dealt again that season to the Canucks for Sam Gagner. He ended that season with 11 games as a Canuck with 4 assists. His season total was 52 games played with 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points.