" If preseason is a time for experimentation, the Ducks are putting on their white laboratory coats with Bobby Ryan. After moving him from left wing to center, the team unveiled a new wrinkle Thursday when it put Ryan at the point position on the power play. The idea is to utilize Ryan's ability to shoot and find teammates. It might not stick, but Coach Randy Carlyle clearly isn't afraid to move pieces around and might try it when the team opens a two-game exhibition trip tonight at San Jose. "I think when you have skilled players, and he's one of our most skilled players, we think it would be foolish not to put him in as many offensive situations as possible," Carlyle said. Ryan played that point position briefly in the American Hockey League. Ideally he would have defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky man the right side and play as a "rover" with Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne down low. "I think in a power-play situation, as long you're comfortable playing anywhere, you've got the numbers and there's not a whole lot of defensive responsibility," Ryan said. "I think the main objective is to outnumber guys around the puck no matter what position you're playing. There's obviously a little bit of change in support and the places I'll have to be, but it's not too hard to figure out. Obviously, those guys move the puck around, and you find lanes and you're ready to go." Last season the Ducks briefly tried out Getzlaf at the point in five-on-three situations, but Carlyle noted that the experiment was shelved after Getzlaf was beaten for a couple of shorthanded goals." http://www.ocregister.com/sports/ryan-267935-ducks-carlyle.html
