Ryan Craig is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a forward in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He began his career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he played from 1998 to 2002. During his time with the Wheat Kings, Craig was known for his leadership skills and was named the team captain in his final season.
In 2002, Craig was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent the majority of his first few seasons with the Lightning's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. However, he did make his NHL debut with the Lightning during the 2005-2006 season, playing in 48 games and recording 15 points.
Craig's best season in the NHL came in 2007-2008, when he played in 75 games for the Lightning and recorded 14 goals and 15 assists. He also served as an alternate captain for the team that season. However, Craig's time with the Lightning came to an end in 2010 when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Craig played just 11 games with the Penguins before being traded again, this time to the Florida Panthers. He played in 36 games for the Panthers during the 2010-2011 season, recording 6 points. However, he spent the majority of the season with the Panthers' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
After his stint with the Panthers, Craig signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011. He played in just 5 games for the Blue Jackets before being sent back down to the AHL. Craig spent the next few seasons bouncing between the AHL and NHL, playing for the Springfield Falcons, Lake Erie Monsters, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
In 2014, Craig signed with the Edmonton Oilers but spent the entire season with their AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons. He played in 72 games for the Barons, recording 42 points.
Craig's final season as a professional hockey player came in 2015-2016, when he played for the Binghamton Senators of the AHL. He played in 76 games for the Senators, recording 27 points.
Throughout his career, Craig was known for his leadership skills and his ability to play a physical game. He served as a captain or alternate captain for several of the teams he played for in the AHL, and was respected by his teammates for his work ethic and dedication to the game. While he never became a star in the NHL, Craig had a long and successful career as a professional hockey player.
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