Teams seeking the next Tyler Johnson are turning their eyes toward Derek Ryan, a diminutive center who was the Swedish league's top scorer in 2014-15.It appears the Colorado Avalanche have the lead in chasing Ryan, who at 28 is a free agent. Also Jonny Venters Jersey said to be in the hunt: the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs.Derek Ryan vinner kategorin rets Forward! Foto: Johan Fred McGriff Jersey Bernstrm / Bildbyrn rebro Hockey (@orebrohockey) The Avs are negotiating with Ryan, according to . It appears a two-way deal is in the works.At 5-10, Ryan is big than Johnson, a generous 5-9. Neither was he wanted during his years of eligibility for the NHL Draft. A right-handed center from Spokane, Wash., Ryan played three seasons for WHL Spokane and five for the University of Alberta.Except for three games in the United Hockey League, that was the extent of his time in North America. He Mike Foltynewicz Jersey was a decent scorer. But rather than chase a job in minor pro leagues, he decided to play in Europe, first in the Austrian league and last season for Matt Joyce Jersey Orebro HK.Johnson, the smallish center for the Tampa Bay Lightning, is giving NHL teams the notion that size isn't everything. Ryan is bigger than Johnson, and he benefits from following Steve Moses. A 5-9 winger from Ma sachusetts, Moses parlayed a 36-goal season in the Ru sian league into a contract with the Nashville Predators.Before going too far overboard about Ryan, consider: He had 60 Bob Uecker Jersey points in 55 games, one more than Jeff Taffe, a 34-year-old journeyman who played 180 NHL games split among five teams.