Will Ryder flourish on third line?

Michael Ryder, as I have always stated from Day 1 has not impressed me enough to be put on the top line with Saku Koivu and Christopher Higgins. A major disappointment along with Guillame Latendresse (send him down to Hamilton Bob!). Yes, he's trying and improving his defensive game as well, but for how long will we h ave the patience? I have always recommended a second line of Kovalev-Plekanec-Kostitsyn from the beginning of training camp and this line whould be kept intact. But, if we have to, my solution would have to be is put Kostitsyn on the front line and replace him on the second line with Grabovsky. I can't think of any other line juggling with our current roster. No, Dandeneault is not a 1st liner, keep him on the 3rd or 4th line, we need a sniper. Kostitsyn is a natural sniper and if given the opportunity on the top line, we'll all be saying "Michael who"?

"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"

It's not just that Ryder is in a slump. His positioning has been terrible, as if he has no clue what to do. With a snap shot like his he has to be in the slot at the right time like Brett Hull. Higgins has been carrying the line all season and Koivu has run hot and cold. It's time to say Pleks is the #1 center: he proves it with production.
For all of those who want lazy ass Guillaume on the first line, keep dreaming. He has no work ethic, so time on the #4 may wake him up.
For Afiniganov fans: just what we need, another tiny player. Gimme a break.

Another important weekend for the Habs- the team must not only compete, it has to win. Go Habs!

Gilbert

linp - Moving up Streit would probably be Option-B, and may come sooner than later, and would not screw up the lines much as Ryder would have to play (LW) though. If Ryder plays (RW) then Tommy K. would be his (LW) as he's played that position with the Kings. I think Carbo is just showing Ryder that the way Tommy K. plays is the way to get out of the scoring slump he's in. Play hard and play big and the goals will come. Gorges needs more playing time and Breeze and Streit are showing small signs that they don't like the heavy hitting and are flinching more than usual. Streit's value on the power play means that he can't sit so i see him playing as a forward more in the future, he doesn't hurt you there.

"OR we can put Steit on the first line AGAIN and let Georges play defence."

That is exactly what I said yesterday. I think Ryder's problem is in his head. He is now half brain dead being in a pressure cocker. Watch one game in the box will do him good. He can wake up faster like that.

It makes sense to play Georges more. He'll get better. Steit can control the puck and shoot well. Since the first line has been giving up goal lately, he can help out the defense also. Lastly, don't break up the 4th line. They are playing good. A line needs chemistry.

TradeRyder,

I had found the preferences the first time around but have no idea where they are now. I'm guessing it's one size fits all from now on.

Hey Blitzen. I set my preferences to show the last one first... but it changed back. You should be able to set it. And yes, it's foolish this way!

____________________________________________________
Trade Ryder! Hope makes a good breakfast, but a bad supper!

How many people would rather have last comments at the top instead of first comments? I think it's a lot easier when posting during games for instance to not have the thread default back to the earliest post everytime you make a new post. I had changed that in my profile but I guess the option is gone now or I'm just not seeing where to change it.

Betty:

If you're not kidding me,

Thank you!

Ali B.

Afinogenov would be too costly acquire although would be a nice fit. Patrick Elias has been around a while I would pass on him.

My best (most sensible) pick would be Marek Svatos from the Avs. I saw him play, he can skate, hit, pass and most importantly SCORE. I don't know what is his current contract is, but couldn't be much higher (if at all) than Ryder's.

Besides Avs have that burning desire of trading for our players (incidentally Theodore is doing quite well this year and became their #1).

Ryder for Svatos, in a heart beat.

Ryder can not skate, hit, pass or deke. All he could do was to shoot and this year he doesn't (can't) do that either. I think he's working hard but he's like a misfiring cylinder, he's playing catch-up to his line and to the opponents all the time. IMHO, Habs' new (and fast) playing style is not for him. All this is dragging down Koivu and Higgins, that's probably the major reason why they haven't scored lately.

Ryder can find himself again with another team and become a decent player too, but I think his time with the Habs is going to be over soon.

cheers

Ali B.

24 Cups:

count me in too among die-hard Beliveau fans. I came to this side of the pond in 65 and been a Le Gros Bill fan ever since.

Dave Stubbs:

I had posted a long winged post at about 3 am this morning about Ryder, I know it was posted (I saw it in the temporary space) but now it's nowhere to be seen. Was it canceled or just fell through the cracks during the transfer of postings? Just curious ;-)

cheers,

Ali B.

http://www.tsn.ca/fantasy_news/columnists/scott_cullen/?ID=222525

From this list of possible available players, I'd take Afinogenov or Elias. Imagine Jagr as a hab!

____________________________________________________
Trade Ryder! Hope makes a good breakfast, but a bad supper!

Anyone see the article in TSN about players that may be trade-ready?

http://www.tsn.ca/fantasy_news/columnists/scott_cullen/?ID=222525

Question: if we could have 'em - who from this list do we most need?

____________________________________________________
Trade Ryder! Hope makes a good breakfast, but a bad supper!

hi everyone, this is my first post. I've been reading these posts for a couple of months now and finally gave up and decided to write and join in the fun.

To start of i'll just say what player has bothered me the most since he's been here, and that is Lats, Roy was right on last year when he said the only reason he was here was cuz of his french heritage. If this guy was not good enough for the second line why do some ppl think he'll be any better on the first. hopfully he'll get sent down sometime soon, so we can bring in someone who is more deserving of being here.

We should aim to try and vote Kostopoulos into the Al-Star Game.

By the way, Kaz, Smolinski shoots right and Pirada why should we keep on promoting Lats for his lackluster play on the 3rd line and by putting Tommy K. on (RW) on the 1st line is to show Ryder how they want him to play while in a slump and the things he's got to do to get out of it, get in front of the net and muck it up as he did when he was a rookie and he scored 25 goals and stop all this fancy BS, get down and dirty. "GRIT not GLARE".

24 cups (and counting :)) there are a few of us old guys kicking around.

scott90 and everyone else
I just read the all star voting rules.....says vote as often as you would like....you can even enter a draw to win tickets....as often as you would like.

Oh no! I clicked on some of your profiles and I get the feeling I must be the oldest person on this site! Habs fan since 1959. (You haven't lived unless you watched Jean Beliveau play - the consummate player in very respect). Anyway, I obviously revelled in watching the Habs win lots of Stanley Cups. And alas, I also painfully stood by our boys during the dark days of Rejean Houle. But trust me, the tide has turned. We are back and Carey Price will eventually return the Cup to it's rightful place. Believe.

Scotty 90

Each time I vote and go back it allows me to vote again and I have a new verification number to enter. I would figure that if there was a once per day limit then they would not allow you to go back. Until the system stops me I might as well keep voting. I know for the baseball all star game and other vote in contests that they are usually unlimited and if not you will be prompted with a message indicating you can't vote anymore.

Krob... their system will probably only accept one vote from a particular IP!

I am writing Kovalev in every time I vote too....and since we are slow at work today I have voted several times already.

I think its great that the Spartan will be playing alongside Koivu and Higgins. The problem on the first line isn't Higgins or Koivu, yes their production is down, particularly Higgins', but I think thats' as a result of Ryder's lack of shots on net, lack of passing, lack of working hard along the boards and coming up with the puck and finally, being too fancy with the puck and coughing it up! Higgy and Koivu will benefit from having Kosto on their line. I am really looking forward to it.

I think Kovalev deserves a write in vote! Do your part!