Mike Van Ryn

Michael Van Ryn (born May 14, 1979) is a former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played for the St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, and Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. He is currently an assistant coach with the Houston Aeros of the AHL.

Playing career
Van Ryn developed his hockey skills in the Byron Minor Hockey Association. He also has a collegiate hockey experience with the University of Michigan of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, before joining the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League in 1999.

Van Ryn was drafted in the 1st round, 26th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. In June 2000, through a loophole, Van Ryn signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues. NHL teams retain the rights of drafted college players until they leave the school. Van Ryn challenged this practice in court and an arbitrator ruled that a player drafted off a college team could play one season of major junior hockey and then become a free agent. Thus after two years at the University of Michigan, Van Ryn went on to play one year for Sarnia Sting, and then became a free agent, which allowed him to sign a three-year deal with St. Louis.

In March 2003, Van Ryn was traded to the Florida Panthers for Valeri Bure and a conditional draft selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Van Ryn was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 2, 2008 for Bryan McCabe and a fourth round draft pick in 2010 (Sam Brittain). Van Ryn's time with the Maple Leafs was plagued with injuries and on October 22, 2009, Van Ryn underwent an osteotomy on his left knee. The surgery was a success in that it allowed Van Ryn to continue his day-to-day life. The Maple Leafs announced on June 30, 2010 that Van Ryn would not be playing in the 2010–11 season. After this announcement, Van Ryn made the decision to transition into coaching as an assistant for the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League when he felt he could not make it back to NHL playing shape.