In my view MB is, with the approach hes taking, trying to put together what we have been craving for, a team that will contend for the Cup year in and year out for many years, like the Flyers, Boston etc. Our top young guys who are the core Mb has been signing to long 6 year deals after their bridge contracts. I don't think MB right now is looking at handing out long term deals to other players who he doesn't think will be effective in the role they are signed for unless he is confident they can play at that level over the duration of that contract. In other words, he isn't going to sign a guy to a 4 year deal just to have that player because he will help now, if he believes the guy only has a couple of good years left. I think Cole was in that area of concern and MB wanted to eject that contract so it didn't handicap the team in future. So Ryder, love his offense, and so will other teams. No question Ryder should command a 3-4 year deal at $4.5M-$5.0M per year. No crystal ball here, but the guy is 33 and though he is a guy who relies on very intelligent positioning and anticipation with a deadly shot, as opposed to a speed game and so he might be able to keep it up longer , I don't know about him producing at least almost 30 goals a year for the next 3-4 years. That is what I think he needs to score, at least, to make a contract like that worth it.
I know people are saying that the UFA market is weak, so what the hell sign the guy, but that's settling, which the Habs have done so often in the past ( like you know Gainey wanting the big centre like Vinny, Arnott, but we settled for Gomez ), and I don't see MB as a guy who settles, especially for such a price tag and term. So what to do ? Maybe wait for next years UFA market or trade for the rights to a younger UFA to be.Or, Im thinking MB is open to doing something we haven't seen too often lately here, real hockey trades of significance. We are building depth, especially on D and MB will use it. for example, if Nathan B shows enough that MB thinks he can handle being our regular PMD on the bottom pairing, and Diaz comes back and plays like he was, then MB has a valuable asset in Diaz to trade, maybe as a package, to get a younger top 6 winger who can score and be an effective part of the team for years. This is an example, I like Diaz, just saying depth gives you options.
.
