During the 1999-2000 season, Bryan suffered a career-ending injury when
he was hit in the eye by a stick blade when Ottawa Senators forward
Marian Hossa attempted a spin around slap shot. In the following days,
doctors determined that Bryan would have no vision in his right eye. He
was forced to retire from the NHL but after sitting out a year, Bryan
was determined to play once again. He passed all his physicals and was
signed as a unrestricted free agent by the New York Rangers and
returned for the 2001-2002 season.