Trade Cole dealt for Michael Ryder

[BCHabnut]

I bounced this around in my head for several hours, and I still don't know what to make of this trade. Part of me is happy to have a good shot back on team, but I am very disapointed to see Cole gone. This team has struggled and been held to the outside for so many years. When opposing teams take away their speed, it's all over. Shots are restricted to the outside. I don't believe that Ryder helps this problem. In fact, I think losing Cole makes this a larger problem. The mind then moves to the cap relief. So now we can rejoice and look forward to picking up a UFA. The more I think about it, the more I hate the idea of signing high profile UFAs. How many work out and how many are just a burden on their team? I started making a list, but I got too lazy and stopped. It just seems to me that the successful teams of the last two decades did not get where they were by doing this. The only one I can think of is the Anaheim Ducks acquiring Neidermier and Pronger. So now we lose a strong first line power forward for a second line shooter and PP specialist. Let's hope I am proven wrong.

[bbp]

The deal makes a lot of sense. I will really miss Cole though, loved his game when he was going.

Positives: Salary, Length, Even Production Player Swap, + Draft Pick.

Negatives: Less Physical, Could Screw With Team Chemistry.

Other Stuff: Cole's Motivation Questions Now Irrelevant For Us, Will Ryder Resign OR is that even what Beregevin wants.

[Habsy]

While it's fun to play GM or coach, I'm a fan, that's it. My team would roll 5 lines and dress 8 defenceman. That's how attached I get to our players. I'd have kept Gill for killing penalties, and MA Bergeron strictly for 5 on 3 situations. So you see where I'm coming from. I liked Cole the player, and I liked Ryder the player back in the day. But I'll say this...Cole sure sounded like a wanker earlier on when he talked about retirement. And these slow starts are annoying and unacceptable. Dude, look into your diet, your off season training regiment. Something, anything to address the way he coasts until Xmas. He's a good player, but he's now been in Carolina twice, Edmonton, Montreal, and Dallas. That's telling in my opinion.

[Kiwihab]

I guess to complete the ex habs rebuild we should expect Gionta to Anaheim for Koivu and a 3rd?

Or maybe Kaberle to Toronto for Komisarek and a 3rd?

But seriously I'm not sure about this trade and will reserve judgement till I see what we get with our extra cap space.

What I'd really like us to get is a big nasty winger along the lines of Lucic but I guess so would most if the league.

[BlueKross]

I have repetedly stated since the before last cba that most GM's dont get the currency known as CAP Space. It is refreshing that MB is getting it. Secondly, nobody said MB is done. Ryder is only five pounds lighter than Cole according to THN yearbook. Yeah, you may want to replace a little toughness, but i was of the opinion you needed more anyway. I believe our first place standing is a bit of a mirage and will take a reajustment, regardless if we had Cole or Ryder, with our remaining bad schedule.

[hab29RETIRED]

I agree about the UFA risks. Also keep in mind that Anaheim was able to sign Neidermeyer for less than market, by giving him a chance to play with his brother and that Pronger was not a UFA signing. The got him because being forced into making a trade, Kevin Lowe made a horrible trade.

I bounced this around in my head for several hours, and I still don't know what to make of this trade. Part of me is happy to have a good shot back on team, but I am very disapointed to see Cole gone. This team has struggled and been held to the outside for so many years. When opposing teams take away their speed, it's all over. Shots are restricted to the outside. I don't believe that Ryder helps this problem. In fact, I think losing Cole makes this a larger problem. The mind then moves to the cap relief. So now we can rejoice and look forward to picking up a UFA. The more I think about it, the more I hate the idea of signing high profile UFAs. How many work out and how many are just a burden on their team? I started making a list, but I got too lazy and stopped. It just seems to me that the successful teams of the last two decades did not get where they were by doing this. The only one I can think of is the Anaheim Ducks acquiring Neidermier and Pronger. So now we lose a strong first line power forward for a second line shooter and PP specialist. Let's hope I am proven wrong.

[hab29RETIRED]

Keep in mind that it has always taken Iginla at least a mint to get going. By the same logic, would you also not have wanted iginla at his peak on the Habs?

While it's fun to play GM or coach, I'm a fan, that's it. My team would roll 5 lines and dress 8 defenceman. That's how attached I get to our players. I'd have kept Gill for killing penalties, and MA Bergeron strictly for 5 on 3 situations. So you see where I'm coming from. I liked Cole the player, and I liked Ryder the player back in the day. But I'll say this...Cole sure sounded like a wanker earlier on when he talked about retirement. And these slow starts are annoying and unacceptable. Dude, look into your diet, your off season training regiment. Something, anything to address the way he coasts until Xmas. He's a good player, but he's now been in Carolina twice, Edmonton, Montreal, and Dallas. That's telling in my opinion.

[JoeLassister]

While it's fun to play GM or coach, I'm a fan, that's it. My team would roll 5 lines and dress 8 defenceman. That's how attached I get to our players. I'd have kept Gill for killing penalties, and MA Bergeron strictly for 5 on 3 situations. So you see where I'm coming from. I liked Cole the player, and I liked Ryder the player back in the day. But I'll say this...Cole sure sounded like a wanker earlier on when he talked about retirement. And these slow starts are annoying and unacceptable. Dude, look into your diet, your off season training regiment. Something, anything to address the way he coasts until Xmas. He's a good player, but he's now been in Carolina twice, Edmonton, Montreal, and Dallas. That's telling in my opinion.

Are you a The Inbetweeners fan ?

[johnnyhasbeen]

First point I will make is we are in 1st but not really. We are 1 point ahead of Boston who has 3 games at hand, therefore we are technically possibly 5 pts out of first and sitting 4th, with a short fall to 6th. We ain't running away from the pack here.

Welcome back Mikey! Loved this guy his first time here and had a hard time hating him as a Bruin. He has a beautiful wrist shot and finds the net. He will do well with Chucky and Eller. I feel confident in that.

Going to miss Cole. Loved having him, but if there is truth to the schooling issues, which I can see, then he is doing the responsible thing as a parent in leaving. If the move is to make cap room for next season I see the point in that to. Let's just say for a minute that Cole doesn't pick it up this year. Do we buy him out instead of Kabrele? How many players contracts do you think we can buy out before no UFA ever signs here again?

I hope this works, both short and long term. The wiggle room in the summer is nice to have. Big contract for a non-producing player off the books real quick. It does send a message that if we are paying you well you better play well or else.

[johnnyhasbeen]

As a side thought, "if" this has to do with him being unhappy about the school system, then once again Quebec's silly laws are effecting the team. When will Quebec get their heads out of the sand and smell what they are causing? Very silly. I know that it is just an issue politicians are keeping alive to fire up the populace and win seats.

[brobin]

People have to get over the myth that Cole is a slow starter. Last year he came to a new team and got no PP time. That explains his slow start, which was an outlier for him. His career first quarter ppg is .6, his season ppg is .63. That includes last year but not his rookie year.

Cole's effectiveness is based on his speed, specifically his second gear to go outside and cut to the net. He is losing that gear. That makes him a hard hitting third liner. While I suspect Cole isn't as bad as he looks this year, his passion seems to be gone. Maybe he gets it back in Dallas, maybe not. I saw no signs of him returning to form in Montreal.

If Ryder keeps putting up points, we are improved this year. Be thankful he wasn't traded in the middle of the game tomorrow....

[brobin]

. It does send a message that if we are paying you well you better play well or else.

I hope Gionta gets the message!

[dlbalr]

Ryder gets #73 back, Gallagher switches to #11. I believe he wore that number while while the Vancouver Giants in junior.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

I'm glad to see some voices expressing skepticism about the Magic UFA that many people originally pointed to in defence of this deal. Given that we will always overpay for UFAs, the very same people now drooling over UFA options will inevitably turn to fuming about the 'excessive term' and 'overpayment.'

(Funnily enough, I'm not generally one of those people. I take the view that it's better to have a valuable player on your team than not have him, even if he has a bad year on the back end of a long contract, or even if his salary is somewhat inflated. I do not think we are competing in the Cap Race Cup).

Anyway, once we subtract the UFA scenario, this means we have shipped Cole out for a 3rd-round pick and two months of Ryder to 'make space' for youngsters. Sort of like how we 'needed' to move Pierre Turgeon to 'make room' for Koivu. Sure, the best move possible is to give ourselves fewer options up front. Wouldn't want too many impact players up there (Yes, I'm being sarcastic).

Habs29 is spot-on in his Iginla comment above. We apparently are in an era where if a proven player with the exact right profile for your team needs has a slump, this proves he is worthless garbage to be tossed aside for a rental and middling pick. Huh?

And so we are left with the 'Cole wanted out' scenario. In which case this move was a regrettable necessity.

So, one morning later, I still see no particular reason to be happy with this deal.

[huzer]

..... did i mention he's also our new points leader and is currently on a 7 games point streak(9).

Ack! And given how streaky Ryder is, he'll now not score for 10 games. I'm just not sold on this deal, other than potential future flexibility. And flexibility is all about what you do with it. Part of my has visions of the early 2000s-horrorfest that was the Habs. With Bouillon, Therrien, and Ryder, the flashback is getting way too strong. Yes, I know that's irrational.

Ack! And given how streaky Ryder is, he'll now not score for 10 games. I'm just not sold on this deal, other than potential future flexibility. And flexibility is all about what you do with it. Part of me has visions of the early 2000s-horrorfest that was the Habs. With Bouillon, Therrien, and Ryder, the flashback is getting way too strong. Yes, I know that's irrational.

[Lovett's Magnatones]

This is an awesome trade. And with all Bergevin's other moves, this one says "the Habs are my team, you fit into the overall plans, or you ship out." Gone is a (nearly) over the hill, mouthy union guy with a horrible two years left on his contract, in is a former hometown favorite with the same stats, who is off the books in a few months. Or they can trade him for a first or highly touted prospect. Win win win. I don't think this is going to disrupt anything, Cole didn't contribute much, he had a monster year last year, but he got a lot of goals in garbage time, the last ten games, and he was on a red hot line. Also! Remember how many backups were rolled out against the Habs last year? 2 out of 3 games down the stretch. Very happy Ryder is back. All we need to do is trade Kaberle for Souray, Louis Leblanc for Captain Koivu, and Gionta and Pateryn for Komisarek, and my teen years will be back!

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

When fans are nostalgic for that garbage, something has gone seriously wrong

[Habsy]

Well CC. If you feel like Hab29 is spot on, and the slow start is the reason for the deal. Then MB is not as cool and calculated as some think. I find it laughable to shrug off a slow start, especially when it seems to define a career. Fix the problem. In fact, I heard Ray Ferraro say something to that effect on local radio.

[johnnyhasbeen]

Ryder gets #73 back, Gallagher switches to #11. I believe he wore that number while while the Vancouver Giants in junior.

Does number 11 only come in size small? (Gionta, Koivu, now Gallager)

[brobin]

I like Gallagher as number 11. If you squint, you can envision a young Koivu....

Ps... On hockey central, they cant believe Dallas made this trade. They hope it works out for them but they see little downside for the habs. They also questioned how well Cole fit in the dressing room.

[JoeLassister]

About time that we get a #11 with a hard wrist shot...

[dlbalr]

Does number 11 only come in size small? (Gionta, Koivu, now Gallager)

Gomez had the number, not Gionta but yes, it's interesting that the smaller players have taken that number recently.

[TurdBurglar]

I'm glad to see some voices expressing skepticism about the Magic UFA that many people originally pointed to in defence of this deal. Given that we will always overpay for UFAs, the very same people now drooling over UFA options will inevitably turn to fuming about the 'excessive term' and 'overpayment.'

(Funnily enough, I'm not generally one of those people. I take the view that it's better to have a valuable player on your team than not have him, even if he has a bad year on the back end of a long contract, or even if his salary is somewhat inflated. I do not think we are competing in the Cap Race Cup).

Anyway, once we subtract the UFA scenario, this means we have shipped Cole out for a 3rd-round pick and two months of Ryder to 'make space' for youngsters. Sort of like how we 'needed' to move Pierre Turgeon to 'make room' for Koivu. Sure, the best move possible is to give ourselves fewer options up front. Wouldn't want too many impact players up there (Yes, I'm being sarcastic).

Habs29 is spot-on in his Iginla comment above. We apparently are in an era where if a proven player with the exact right profile for your team needs has a slump, this proves he is worthless garbage to be tossed aside for a rental and middling pick. Huh?

And so we are left with the 'Cole wanted out' scenario. In which case this move was a regrettable necessity.

So, one morning later, I still see no particular reason to be happy with this deal.

Don't forget the free agent interview period starts a week or 10 days before free agency now, contract lengths are capped, different lengths for re-signing/signing and the cap is going down. These have a huge impact on the prospect of overpaying for UFAs.

-You now can talk to UFAs before July 1st, get a sense of if you can get them or not, use that as a guideline for who you will resign.

-Players can't shoot for the moon with 5-7 year deals all the time, there's a cap and team probably won't go for max length so often.

-The cap is going down, any good UFA wants to play on a contender, with cap going down the more they command, the less cap will be there for other players.

-Can't bury money, NYR won't be able to throw the book at a player and bury them if they feel the need. Other teams know this isn't an option anymore.

I think we will be surprised this off-season on the length and amount of the new contracts. While I don't see any player taking a loss, I doubt we'll see many NYR type contracts.

Well CC. If you feel like Hab29 is spot on, and the slow start is the reason for the deal. Then MB is not as cool and calculated as some think. I find it laughable to shrug off a slow start, especially when it seems to define a career. Fix the problem. In fact, I heard Ray Ferraro say something to that effect on local radio.

From the later reports that came out it sounded like Cole was unhappy, mostly about the bilingual mandatory schooling he had to send his kids to. I don't believe this was just a trade because of his slow start, although it may of been a factor. Cole wasn't performing, being demoted to the 3rd line shows that. He was the new Gomez of the team, but not nearly as bad. He was commanding a lot of money, not producing, not eating up the minutes he was being paid for. Yes we got smaller again, but there's no way losing an Cole who wasn't producing is going to make our team that much worse. We even added someone producing to our lineup.

We made off like bandits in the trade if Ryder continues to produce. More offense, less money and not on the hook with a contract for less physicality and a 2 inch loss in height.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

Folks here do recognize that Michael Ryder walks in tied for our points lead and second in goal scoring, right? Cole is going to walk into the terrible Dallas Stars... tied for 10th. Well.

We gotta get that puck in the back of the net so I don't have to hear people analyzing Carey Price's goaltending when he allowed one goal in a 2-1 shootout loss.

[JoeLassister]

Folks here do recognize that Michael Ryder walks in tied for our points lead and second in goal scoring, right? Cole is going to walk into the terrible Dallas Stars... tied for 10th. Well.

We gotta get that puck in the back of the net so I don't have to hear people analyzing Carey Price's goaltending when he allowed one goal in a 2-1 shootout loss.