Ryan Spooner

Ryan Bradley Spooner (born January 30, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks. He was selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round, 45th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Ryan Spooner
Spooner with the Boston Bruins in 2015
Born (1992-01-30) January 30, 1992 (age 32)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
PositionCentre
ShootsLeft
KHL team
Former teams
Avangard Omsk
Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
HC Lugano
Dinamo Minsk
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
NHL draft45th overall, 2010
Boston Bruins
Playing career2011–present

Playing career

Junior

Spooner in July 2011

Spooner was selected fifth overall in the 2008 OHL Bantam Draft by the Peterborough Petes. In his third season with the Petes, on November 11, 2010, Spooner was traded to the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for Alan Quine, Clark Seymour, a 2011 second-round draft pick and a 2013 second-round draft pick.[1]

On January 5, 2012, Spooner was then traded by the Frontenacs to the Sarnia Sting for Ryan Kujawinski.[2]

Professional

Boston Bruins

As a rookie, Spooner led the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Boston Bruins' top minor league affiliate, in points, scoring 57 points in 59 games.

Spooner made his NHL debut for Boston on February 6, 2013, against the Montreal Canadiens. Spooner was called up to the Bruins for the first time in the 2013–14 season on October 31, 2013. Playing against the Anaheim Ducks, Spooner assisted on a Carl Söderberg goal to record his first NHL point. Spooner scored his first career NHL goal on February 27, 2015, in overtime to beat the New Jersey Devils 3–2 in a Boston road victory.[3] Spooner's first goal in regulation time came as the first Boston goal in a 3–1 road defeat of the Ottawa Senators on March 10, 2015, with Spooner also scoring a second goal in the same game.[4]

On July 1, 2015, the Boston Bruins re-signed Spooner to a two-year, $1.9 million contract worth $950,000 annually.[5]

On July 26, 2017, Spooner and the Bruins avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2.825 million.[6]

In 2018, Spooner scored his 100th NHL career assist on February 11, assisting on defenceman Torey Krug's second-period goal during a 5–3 victory over the New Jersey Devils.[7]

New York Rangers

On February 25, Spooner was traded along with Matt Beleskey, Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 first-round pick and a 2019 seventh-round pick to the New York Rangers in exchange for Rick Nash.[8] On July 31, 2018, as a restricted free agent Spooner signed to a two-year deal with the Rangers.[9]

Edmonton Oilers

Spooner struggled to replicate his initial success with the Rangers to begin the 2018–19 season, posting 2 points in 16 games before he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ryan Strome on November 16, 2018.[10] His offensive woes continued with the Oilers, registering just 2 goals in 24 games before he was placed on waivers by the Oilers on January 21, 2019.[11] After clearing waivers, Spooner was later re-assigned to affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, on January 23, marking his first return to the AHL since 2015.[12]

Vancouver Canucks

Spooner played in 7 games with the streaking Condors, posting 6 points, before he was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Sam Gagner on February 16, 2019.[13] Remaining on the NHL roster, Spooner played out the remainder of the season registering 4 assists in 11 games for the Canucks.

With the Canucks in need of salary cap relief, Spooner was placed on unconditional waivers and bought out from the remaining year on his contract on June 30, 2019.[14]

Europe

As a free agent, Spooner opted to pause his NHL career, agreeing to a one-year European contract with Swiss club, HC Lugano of the NL on July 17, 2019.[15] Spooner was a healthy scratch for most of the beginning of the season, appearing in only 2 games (1 assist) through Lugano's first 14 regular season games. With no intention from the coaching staff to reinsert Spooner into the lineup, he joined HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on October 21, 2019.

Following two seasons with Dinamo Minsk, Spooner left as a free agent continuing in the KHL in signing a one-year contract with Russian club, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on May 11, 2021.[16]

At the conclusion of his contract with Avtomobilist, Spooner returned for a second stint with Dinamo Minsk, signing a one-year contract on June 15, 2022.[17] Following a return to a top scoring line role with Minsk, Spooner responded with career best of 19 goals along with 28 points for 47 points in 64 games.

Spooner continued his tenure in the KHL in the 2023–24 season, moving on a one-year contract to Russian club, Avangard Omsk, on August 6, 2023.[18]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2008–09Peterborough PetesOHL62302858840110
2009–10Peterborough PetesOHL471935541230112
2010–11Peterborough PetesOHL14109192
2010–11Kingston FrontenacsOHL50253762654262
2010–11Providence BruinsAHL32130
2011–12Kingston FrontenacsOHL271418328
2011–12Sarnia StingOHL30151934861238
2011–12Providence BruinsAHL51340
2012–13Providence BruinsAHL5917405714122354
2012–13Boston BruinsNHL40000
2013–14Providence BruinsAHL4911354681269152
2013–14Boston BruinsNHL23011116
2014–15Boston BruinsNHL29810182
2014–15Providence BruinsAHL34818261050440
2015–16Boston BruinsNHL8013364935
2016–17Boston BruinsNHL781128391440220
2017–18Boston BruinsNHL39916252
2017–18New York RangersNHL20412162
2018–19New York RangersNHL161120
2018–19Edmonton OilersNHL252132
2018–19Bakersfield CondorsAHL72466
2018–19Vancouver CanucksNHL110440
2019–20HC LuganoNL20110
2019–20Dinamo MinskKHL431027376
2020–21Dinamo MinskKHL366333914
2021–22Avtomobilist YekaterinburgKHL4511233424
2022–23Dinamo MinskKHL641928471661450
2023–24Avangard OmskKHL6523386110101564
NHL totals325481191676340220
KHL totals25369149218701629114

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2009Canada OntarioU17 646100
2010CanadaU187th62022
Junior totals1266122

Awards and honours

AwardYear
OHL
Second All-Rookie Team2009[19]
William Hanley Trophy2010[19]
CHL Top Prospects Game2010
AHL
All-Rookie Team2013[19]

References