Let’s admit it, trades can suck. They shock you, they put players on teams you despise, they break your heart when you realize your team will be stacked up against their former teammates who won the Stanley Cup with them only a few seasons ago. Even worse? Say hello to your division rival.
Such was the case when Michael Ryder was recently traded from Dallas to Montreal. Morontreal? But why?! He’d already been there. Why put his fans through that again? But now we sit and watch him doing well and even if he’s on that damned Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge you can see he’s doing well and heck, he’s back on an Original Six team… right? Sort of.
As a fan it’s called “getting over yourself” and doing it quickly. Ryder was drafted by the Habs and played for the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs before breaking into the NHL and leading all rookies in scoring during the 2003-04 season. You can’t exactly whine about where he achieved it given he achieved it, right? (Note: Minor complaints are allowed provided they are directed at other members of the team, except Brendan Gallagher.)
Of course, the folks who love the Bruins and love Ryder have the hardest time. Amirite? *cough*
How could they not? They need no reminding of April 23, 2011. Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. First period, even strength and scoreless. Boston was leading in the series 3-2 and then Michael Ryder became even more awesome than usual. Yes, it was somehow possible for the awesome to increase. Out of nowhere Michael Ryder blocked Tomas Plekanec in a fashion so wild and free and beautiful… *ahem*
Ryder went on to grow a great beard and…
But found himself as an unrestricted free agent the following summer and wound up in Dallas. With Burish.
It wasn’t all Burish bad. He scored a career-high 35 goals in his first season with the team, though this season saw him traded back to Montreal. And here we are.
But let’s have some fun. We’re all Ryder fans around these parts no matter what team we cheer for, right? Right?
Three things you might not know about Michael Ryder:
And as a bonus, some boys from Newfoundland and Labrador who you might be familiar with:
