Remember when all anybody could talk about was Anaheim Ducks' forward Bobby Ryan and his bold trade demands? Looks like he finally realized what we already knew - his words came across as "kind of stupid."

"I gotta be honest with you. At this point, I don't care. Move me ... because it's just tough going to the rink every day knowing that if something goes wrong, you're going to be the guy moved."

Those were the exact words Ryan used a few months ago helping to ignite the firestorm of rumors and wild speculation. A defiant Ryan made it very clear that he was mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

His comments came at a volatile time for the Ducks. The team had just completed a difficult season in which it fired its long-time head coach and missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. When a team falters heads have to role or so it seems.

Ryan had to know there would be rumors involving him and that his name would come up - again. It is the nature of professional sports. Ryan should have reacted to the chatter with a little more professionalism.

Once he uttered his trade demands, it appeared as if the Ducks were on the verge of a public relations nightmare.

Ryan has since backed off of his trade request by calling his earlier statements, "kind of stupid."

"...10 minutes after the interview, I was like, 'Gosh, I shouldn't have done that, seeing that I'm teeing off on the 37th hole of the day after 11 o'clock.' It was kind of stupid."

Ryan should have been more aware of what he was saying. Its not like this was the first time his mouth has gotten him into hot water. Last summer an off-the-cuff remark to a fellow NHL player on Twitter about the people from the northern half of his home state of New Jersey exploded into a series of heated exchanges. Ryan and fans from Northern New Jersey threw verbal jabs back and forth until the NHL star finally blocked his detracters.

Ryan grew up in South Jersey - again, he should have known better.

While Murray and Ryan have yet to sit down and talk about this summer's controversy, I think it is finally safe to put all the trade talk to bed - for now, that is unless Ryan has anymore colorful words of wisdom he wishes to share with the rest of the world.

I never believed he would be traded, but one has to wonder what happens if Anaheim struggles again. Inevitably his name will come up in any subsequent rumors. After all, that is the nature of the business.


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