Newfoundland locals headed in opposite directions

[Spider-Man NL]

By ROBIN SHORT, Telegram Sports Editor

Last year’s rookie sensation Michael Ryder is considering joining another Newfoundland native overseas, while Darren Langdon will be off moose hunting now that National Hockey League players were officially locked out Wednesday.

It’s the first time since they left Newfoundland to play junior hockey that Ryder and Langdon have remained home this far into their summer break.

“It’s pretty different,” Langdon said from Deer Lake Wednesday, hours before commissioner Gary Bettman made the lockout official at the NHL’s New York office. “I’m never here when the weather gets cool.”

While Langdon’s priority for the short term is to knock down a moose, Ryder, a 25-goal scorer with the Montreal Canadiens last season, is leaning towards taking his sticks and skates to Europe.

Of course, Ryder, a finalist for rookie of the year, has more to lose than Langdon, who is on the downside of a fine 507-game NHL career.

An unrestricted free agent the Canadiens inexplicably cut loose after the season, Langdon signed a two-year deal with the New Jersey Devils in July.

Ryder may be headed to Sweden, where his agent, Toronto’s Thane Campbell, has placed two other NHL clients — Carolina’s Justin Williams and Jonathan Cheechoo of San Jose.

If he does play in Sweden, he’ll join Daniel Cleary of Riverhead, Harbour Grace who signed with Mora IK along with former Edmonton Oilers teammate Shawn Horcoff. Cleary scored six goals in 68 games with Phoenix last season.

Any contracts NHLers sign with European — or minor pro — teams come with an escape clause once the lockout ends.

“I don’t know how long we’re going to be out,” said Ryder, who was on the way home to his native Bonavista Wednesday, “but if I miss out not playing and everybody else is out there playing, I’m going to lose a step.”

Langdon considered playing elsewhere, like the six-team Ontario Stars Hockey League which features four-on-four play. But with a family that includes four children to pack up and move, he’s opted to remain home.

“We have to get back to work pretty soon,” he said, “although it looks like it’s going to be a long one.

“The players are pretty set. Most of us think it’s a pretty good system, although there are a few owners paying out millions and millions. You don’t need to give out $10 million contracts if you don’t want to. And if you do, then tax them.

“This (recent CBA) agreement has been in place 10 years and teams like Calgary and Tampa Bay seem to be doing well with it.”

In the meantime, the Canadiens signed defenceman Sheldon Souray this week which means Ryder is the only player from last season the Canadiens have not cut loose not under contract.

Montreal qualified the Group II restricted free agent, a minimum 10 per cent raise on last year’s $605,000 US deal.

“They never came back with nothing else,” said the 24-year-old, hard-shooting right-winger. “We’re kind of stuck in neutral.

“We haven’t been talking (to Montreal). I guess they want to wait to see what happens with a new CBA.”

Forward Daniel Cleary of Harbour Grace, who skated with the Phoenix Coyotes last season, had already signed a contract to play with a Swedish team in the event of a lockout.

Back in the AHL

Harold Druken of St. John’s and Corner Brook’s Jason King, two players who spent time in the NHL last season with Toronto and Vancouver, with be back with their AHL teams in St. John’s and Manitoba. Ryane Clowe of St. John’s will begin his second AHL season in Cleveland, while St. John’s defenceman Doug O’Brien is a rookie trying to make the Springfield Falcons.

Veteran John Slaney from the capital returns to the Philadelphia Phantoms where he’s playing out the final year of his contract with the parent Philadelphia Flyers.

rshort@thetelegram.com

[Edited on 2004/9/17 by Spider-Man NL]