Michael Ryder Thread: The "Erik Who?" edition

[Le Tricolore]

I hate Ryder a lot but he's way better than Bourque, let's not kid ourselves.

Your brother said he hated him for absolutely no reason... are you the same?

 

[Dominator13]

Give him 3x$5 million

That's 1 year too much IMO. But 2 years at 5 mil? I can live with that. Ryder is 100000x the playmaker he was when he left Montreal.

 

[Agnostic]

Ryder hate has always been irrational. Bergevin corrected a Gainey ****up. He won't repeat it.

 

[BLONG7]

He is at 3.5M now, it will cost that at least...the guy can score goals from anywhere...he should be kept...2-3 yrs.

 

[DenverHabsFan]

You never have too many productive players since every player in the league except Crosby is streaky and then there are injuries. 4-4.5M per yr would be a decent deal. MB was a genius for getting rid of Cole's contract and realizing that his production would start declining after an exceptional year. He needs to do the same with Gio before he becomes impossible to trade like Kaberle.

DD/Pleks/Eller/Chucky at C and Gally/Pac/Bourque/Ryder/Prust on the wing. Best team I can remember since our last cup. Still need to plug some holes with toughness on 4th line and stay at home D and we're a top team for the next few years.

 

[Ginu]

He exhibits a calmness out there that he didn't show the last time he was here. He's patient and it shows. He's become a go-to player and we seriously fleeced Dallas on that trade. So clutch.

 

[Bryson]

Just wanted to say that it feels real good to do the fleecing for a change instead of being the fleecee. Also Ryder is totally playing himself out of a contract with the habs with the way he is playing. Ryder is 33 and will likely be looking for something longer term than 2 years and with the way he is playing he will get it.

I'm not up to speed on the new CBA but is the rule about players over 35 affecting the cap hit still in effect?

 

[KrejciMVP]

Well I was obviously wrong about the move. Ryder was a good pickup. Montreal should have resigned him years ago but it looks like they have corrected that mistake.

 

[Em Ancien]

Just wanted to say that it feels real good to do the fleecing for a change instead of being the fleecee. Also Ryder is totally playing himself out of a contract with the habs with the way he is playing. Ryder is 33 and will likely be looking for something longer term than 2 years and with the way he is playing he will get it.

I'm not up to speed on the new CBA but is the rule about players over 35 affecting the cap hit still in effect?

They have to be signed after hitting 35 years of age. If he signed the contract at 33 and it went through whatever age post-35, and retired at 35, the contract wouldn't count.

Those were the rules before, didn't check new CBA.

 

[HBDay]

You never have too many productive players since every player in the league except Crosby is streaky and then there are injuries. 4-4.5M per yr would be a decent deal. MB was a genius for getting rid of Cole's contract and realizing that his production would start declining after an exceptional year. He needs to do the same with Gio before he becomes impossible to trade like Kaberle.

DD/Pleks/Eller/Chucky at C and Gally/Pac/Bourque/Ryder/Prust on the wing. Best team I can remember since our last cup. Still need to plug some holes with toughness on 4th line and stay at home D and we're a top team for the next few years.

Exactly. Of all the trades I saw happen over the past couple day's I think that the Cole for Ryder trade has easily been the smartest trade. And a damn good result.

I think the market is probably already pretty dismal for Gionta... I can't think who would take him. Maybe when his contract expires I could see New Jersey signing him for 1 year on the uber-cheap end of the salary and then Gionta retiring. As I said earlier the older small guy's playing hockey are being made to look really bad compared to Gallagher especially and Desharnais. Gallagher has basically started a new breed of small players in my mind. I mean in my opinion smallish players have mostly been snipers or guy's with good vision. Gallagher is both but also crash and bang grind it out puck possession.

Anyways on Back on Ryder.

Yes Bergevin would loose favour from me if he doesn't resign Ryder.

Ryder will ask for more than 3.5 million of course so if he wants 4 million we also have the horrible taxes so he will ask for 4.5 million. Bergevin maybe could sweet talk him down to 4 million with a longer contract maybe 3-4 years with no trade clause so Ryder isn't a perennial free agent or becomes a perennial trade bait.

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Well I was obviously wrong about the move. Ryder was a good pickup. Montreal should have resigned him years ago but it looks like they have corrected that mistake.

He didn't fit in years ago with the system Carbonneau had, I can't really blame Ryder for wanting out, from back to back 30 goal seasons to the press box

The way he is playing now with Pleks and the fact that he knows the city I would definitely look him up, especially if you consider the weak UFA list coming up this summer

 

[CrAzYNiNe]

re-sign. For the love of god people, it's spelt RE-SIGN. resign means you quit.

Ryder has been great! I was skeptical like many others, very happy that I was wrong. He has more goals and points with the Habs in 17 games than he did with Dallas in 19 games. Impressive.

 

[AcadiaAxeMan]

agreed

Since leaving on "bad terms" the first time, he has developed a safe defensive side to his game and he no longer wants (or tries) to carry the puck up the ice, especially through the neutral zone and lets Plecks/Gionta do that for him, or he dumps and chases! He goes to the corners more and his shot/release is one of the best in the league! I'd encourage MB to give him a 2-year deal worth 4-4.5/season! Thank you BOSTON for helping him become a better all-round player!

I'm more impressed with the backchecking he's been doing this year. I really didn't expect to see a more aggressive Ryder without the puck. Not what I'm use to from his old Montreal days and Boston days.

When it comes to signing him, it really depends what is the price.. but with more and more UFA's signing.. Unless Montreal does a trade for a top 6 forward, I think he's a Hab next year.

 

[Jmac1160*]

If we want to keep Ryder and have Kristo next year then there has to be one of 2 things that need to happen:

1. Trade/Buy out Bourque
or
2. Trade/Buy out Gionta

I would rather option 2. Not a Gio hater but it's the best option IMO

 

[llamateizer]

If we want to keep Ryder and have Kristo next year then there has to be one of 2 things that need to happen:

1. Trade/Buy out Bourque
or
2. Trade/Buy out Gionta

I would rather option 2. Not a Gio hater but it's the best option IMO

Gionta and Bourque are doing the job.
Gionta have 1 year left.

 

[HBDay]

If we want to keep Ryder and have Kristo next year then there has to be one of 2 things that need to happen:

1. Trade/Buy out Bourque
or
2. Trade/Buy out Gionta

I would rather option 2. Not a Gio hater but it's the best option IMO

Well that's an easy one. Here's your answer Keep Gionta for his last year as he will be hard to trade. Keep Bourque because buying him out is a ridiculous option.

Kristo will play in the AHL. It's silly really to be saying

"Kristo or Ryder"

I don't think it really need's and explanation. Kristo will be depth forward playing in the AHL as an injury call up. Unless he tears it up insanely and I would not wager Ryder on him tearing it up and being NHL ready next October.

 

[Habsfan18]

The guy has been great for us, no doubt. But are we really prepared to give him a long term deal at 5 million or more per? I doubt it.

Weak UFA market = Michael will get his money.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

I've said it before multiple times, and I'll say it again; Ryder is not the same player as he was before. You can actually see him winning puck battles (i.e. Galchenyuk's goal yesterday), forecheck efficiently and hustle in front of the net.

At this pace, there's no way I don't re-sign him to a 3 years, 4.5M per contract. He's definitely worth it. Let's just find a way to replace Gionta at some point to free up some salary if we need too. Especially with a guy like Kristo not SO far away from being and NHLer.

 

[Banjo Cat]

The guy just seems to always be in the right place at the right time. It's like he's got good karma or something.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

The most I give him is 2 years/5 M per. Prefer that to 3 years @ 4.5 M per, as an example. Don't want his number on the books when the Gallys are RFA's.

 

[BaseballCoach]

I've said it before multiple times, and I'll say it again; Ryder is not the same player as he was before. You can actually see him winning puck battles (i.e. Galchenyuk's goal yesterday), forecheck efficiently and hustle in front of the net.

At this pace, there's no way I don't re-sign him to a 3 years, 4.5M per contract. He's definitely worth it. Let's just find a way to replace Gionta at some point to free up some salary if we need too. Especially with a guy like Kristo not SO far away from being and NHLer.

We can afford $5M for Ryder, plus Gionta, next year, but if Gionta wants to be re-signed in summer 2014, he will have to probably come down by about $2M. At $3M for one year, and continuing a year at a time at market value given his contribution, I would be willing to keep the little warrior for a few more years. But not at inflated cost.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

We can afford $5M for Ryder, plus Gionta, next year, but if Gionta wants to be re-signed in summer 2014, he will have to probably come down by about $2M. At $3M for one year, and continuing a year at a time at market value given his contribution, I would be willing to keep the little warrior for a few more years. But not at inflated cost.

To me, with guys like Gallagher, Desharnais, and eventually Kristo (even if he's not as small, he still isn't exactly a very different kind of player on our top-6), I just don't see how a competitive lineup can afford keeping him and not employ a player bringing a different aspect to our main offensive core.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

The most I give him is 2 years/5 M per. Prefer that to 3 years @ 4.5 M per, as an example. Don't want his number on the books when the Gallys are RFA's.

Thing is, once both Gallys will be up for raises, Gionta's contract will be off. Markov's too. Kaberle will have been bought out.

We'll be dealing at a position of strength. We can easily make room for more salary over the years.

 

[BaseballCoach]

To me, with guys like Gallagher, Desharnais, and eventually Kristo (even if he's not as small, he still isn't exactly a very different kind of player on our top-6), I just don't see how a competitive lineup can afford keeping him and not employ a player bringing a different aspect to our main offensive core.

Gionta would not be top 6 by then, but solid veteran depth at a lower price.....or he would have to leave.

 

[Miller Time]

did not think I'd want him re-signed when we traded for him... but two things have changed my mind:

- his game seems to have matured a bit since his last stint here. He's no "end-to-end" player, but he's much more aware and reliable with the puck & better at winning 1-on-1 battles than he was in the past iirc

- he seems to really be thriving playing in MT's system. He's always been a pretty opportunistic scorer, and playing in the more wide-open style that MT's approach allows for is a good fit for him.


2 years, 5M$
3 years, 4.5M$
4 years, 4M$ (least attractive)

i'd be happen with any of the three, especially knowing that he'll get more on the free-market with so little UFA talent available.