A matter of time

The Michael Ryder situation has clearly come to a head. Earlier in the week, the Newfoundland native noted that he needs more ice time to be effective and that if he's not going to get it in Montreal, maybe he'd be better off somewhere else.

It's been known for sometime now that Ryder is on the trading block and the fact that he's still sporting a habs jersey should be a clear indication that interest in the three-time 30 goal scorer is nill.

Those with a bit of foresight saw this ugly breakup coming way back in the summer of 2005, when the Canadiens took their promising young rookie to arbitration. Successful NHL teams don't make a habit of taking first year players with 25-goal, 63-point seasons to arbitration. It's a tremendously difficult and acrimoneous process which demands that the organization drag their player through the mud, pointing out every flaw in his game and character to prove he's not worth what he thinks he is.

So why was Ryder made to suffer? The answer is he caught the Montreal brass off guard. Remember that Ryder was originally drafted 216th overall in the 1998 draft. After that he spent the next five seasons bouncing around the QMJHL, ECHL and AHL ranks, without making much of an impression at each stop. Then came a strong 67-point season in his first go around with Montreal's new farm team, the Hamilton Bulldogs. Interest in Montreal was peeked, and the next thing you knew, the boy who couldn't score 15 in the ECHL, had scored 25 in the NHL.

When it came time to talk long term contract, though, this all worked against him. As good as that first season was, with no pedigree to speak of, the Canadiens management must have been concerned they had a one hit wonder on their hands. Ryder, on the other hand, had just made the impossible happen and was looking to cement his place in the NHL with a hefty deal. The clash was inevitable and costly for both sides.

From that point on there was no turning back. Things are said in an arbitration process which can never be forgotten, especially not by a natural goal scorer like Ryder, who tend to have massive egos even by professional athlete standards.

He was eventually signed to a one-year deal. When that expired and on the heels of his first 30-goal season, the two sides talked long-term deal. But when those talks failed, as was inevitable given the history between the two sides, he was extended a one year qualifying offer. As a restricted free agent, Ryder had only two choices: accept the offer or go back to arbitration (which he had lost the first time around). He accepted the offer, through gritted teeth no doubt, and with that his fate was sealed.

He would sign one more offer sheet in the summer of 2007, again having little recourse as a restricted free agent, but this time knowing that he would be free next year to look for a long term deal elsewhere.

Meanwhile, every other team in the league has been watching. They know that with the chances of Ryder resigning in Montreal at zero and with him having a slow year, they can afford to play hardball with general manager Bob Gainey. His short and long term value to the franchise are very close to zero and that spells low, low prices for other clubs.

He may still be moved before the trade deadline, but rest assured, Montreal will be luck to secure a bag of pucks for him.