Ryan signs overseas despite comments

For the second time during the NHL’s prolonged offseason, Bobby Ryan might regret comments made in a newspaper interview.

According to a report from Swedish news outlet Aftonbladet, the Anaheim Ducks forward is in talks to join Mora IK of Sweden’s second-tier pro league, barring a quick resolution to the NHL lockout.

Mora is also the locked-out home of Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar.

Back in September, Ryan told Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register that he will stay in California during the work stoppage and would not consider any other options even if the lockout were to drag on.

“I know you’ll lose guys right way. That being said, I’m an NHL player. I’m not going to take somebody else’s job overseas,” Ryan told the paper.

The 25-year-old scorer reinforced his opinion during an October interview with New Jersey’s Courier-Post.

“I’m going to handle things the way I think things should be handled,” Ryan told the Courier-Post. “I think it’s important to stay here (in the United States) and be part of the solution and not just run from it.”

According to Wednesday’s Aftonbladet article, Mora would need to cut one of the two North Americans already signed to the club, Tyler Gotto or Prestin Ryan, to make room for the NHL star.

If Ryan does end up signing overseas, it will be the second time the forward has had a change of mind in recent months.

After challenging the Ducks to trade him in June amidst persistent rumours, Ryan later regretted his comments, telling the Register it was “a mistake and a slip-up on my part.”

UPDATE: Mora announced on its website Wednesday that Ryan has indeed signed with the team and will connect with the club on Tuesday. The deal permits Ryan to return to the NHL should the lockout end.

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