FanNation - The Republic of Sport

A one year contract? And then go through this all over again? Why bother?

Bet they have a few too many contracts coming due next year & don't want to get stuck in a really bad spot with a higher level player (not to be a knock on Ryder).

I just don't understand how a team can miss the playoffs (especially after the start they had last season), and then re-sign every player to ensure that they have the same team the next year. Its not like we're talking about the Penguinsof a year ago, where they just need another year's experience here (and even THEY improved their team that off-season!) I like Gainey as GM, he did a great job in Dallas, but I sure don't like the lack of any moves on his part this year

Pimpy, don't be an idiot, this is obviously a joke. I mean, look, they even planted people in here acting like it's still played. Very clever!

The fact that it's a one year contract tells me that if they in a position where they are not going to make the playofs, he will be traded.

#*@%! I wish this website had spell-checker!

i agree with popking...

and it does have spell checker... at least for me...

While Ryder is an excellent player - and I DO like him - to consider him a franchise is a bit far. He's got a killer shot, and can definitely play the game - but a franchise? Kinda sets the bar low for the rest of the team, no? Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Joe Sakic, Martin Brodeur - those guys are franchise players, and Ryder doesn't come close to their level. Still cheering for him to do well, and I like the call on him being trade bait next year too...the Wings can always use a player with his kind of shot!

Perhaps not the prototypical "franchise player" . . . .however he's what the Habs got @ this time and I'm sure they will do with what they've got . . . . . .man! they gotta start spending money soon over there

agreed - a great, storied franchise embarassing itself with bad/unmotivated players and a captain who hardly ever plays

they could've went after the " tier 2 " type free agents that were available . . . . i know that planned to land Briere ala company . . . .but there were more available . . . . . they could've traded Souray when they realized that they could'nt sign him . . . . . .

There are some very strange comments on this section so it is difficult to know where to start. With respect to gocanada and the captian hardly playing the captain is Koivu. Last year he played 81 games and had 75 points (a career high).
With respect to bad unmotivated player check out Koivu, Higgins, Komisarek, Markov, Latendresse, Lapierre, Plekanic. The makings of a solid team.

To groundpounder; they could have traded Souray but were still competing for a playoff spot and in Montreal you sell your soul to get to the playoffs because in the playoffs anything can happen. Go review '93 cup history if you want proof.

Tru dat!! no doubt HabfanNJ . . . . . . what i meant to say was that , prior to the July first deadline . . . .when it appeared painfully evident that the Habs were in a position that they realized that Souray was'nt going to sign with them. . . . .even if it were 2007-07-01 @ 11h59 AM . . . . a back-up plan would've @ least given something in return

groundpounder - I understand but that was not an alternative becuase the movement of players was closed to them by then. They committed to the playoffs so took him past the trade deadline and remember until the July 1 Souray had indicated that he wished to stay in Montreal. I think from comments I've read subsequently, he was annoyed that Gainey chose to sign Markov first and then annoyed he didn't receive the same offer. In any event I miss hockey!!