Ryder

The Gazette's Pat Hickey reports that Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau wants the struggling Michael Ryder to shoot the puck - a lot. The coach believes Ryder will be able to get out of his slump if he continues to work hard and simplify his game.

"The answer is in Michael's hands. If he works hard and shoots the puck, good things will happen. He'll be the first one to tell you he doesn't like the situation he's in right now. It's not fun. When you're there to score goals, you want to contribute and it's been hard for him."

Canadiens' mostly first-line forward Michael Ryder figures hard work and more shots on goal will turn the tide and get him back on the scoresheet, where he had 30 goals and 28 assists last season. Dave Stubbs reports in today's Gazette column.

A quiet day at the Bell Centre, with players reporting for off-ice conditioning work on a rare Sunday workday, with the Buffalo Sabres in town for a Monday night, homestand finale. Here's a little audio
gathered from:

Head coach Guy Carbonneau on Francis Bouillon's expected return to action, Michael Ryder's recent performance and more. In French, clip runs 5:45. In English, clip runs 6:00.

Defenceman Francis Bouillon on his recovery from a shoulder injury. In French, clip runs 1:25. In English, clip runs 4:13.

Forward Michael Ryder on keeping a stiff upper lip, on working hard, and hoping the puck bounces his way. Clip runs 4:46.

A quiet day at the Bell Centre, with players reporting for off-ice conditioning work on a rare Sunday workday, with the Buffalo Sabres in town for a Monday night, homestand finale. Here's a little audio gathered from:

Head coach Guy Carbonneau on Francis Bouillon's expected return to action, Michael Ryder's recent performance and more. In French, clip runs 5:45. In English, clip runs 6:00.

Defenceman Francis Bouillon on his recovery from a shoulder injury. In French, clip runs 1:25. In English, clip runs 4:13.

Forward Michael Ryder on keeping a stiff upper lip, on working hard, and hoping the puck bounces his way. Clip runs 4:46.

The Gazette's Pat Hickey reports that there were plenty of questions being asked in the locker room last night about Michael Ryder's struggles this season, but Canadiens captain Saku Koivu was quick to defend his winger.

"Everybody has slumps and you notice them more when they come at the beginning of the season," Koivu said. "He's in the same spots he's always been and he's getting his chances, but he's having shots blocked or he's missing the net."

Audio from the Canadiens gathered after today's morning skate at the Bell Centre, a few hours before the Habs take on the Philadelphia Flyers:

Michael Ryder on his need to shoot more, and how the Canadiens' speed could neutralize the Flyers' physical game. Clip runs 2:00.
Christopher Higgins on the rude welcome awaiting Flyers' Daniel Brière, and how the Canadiens should do some banging of their own. Clip runs 3:44.
Bryan Smolinski on the Canadiens' long-established rivalry with the Flyers, of which he's about to get his first taste. Clip runs 2:38.
Head coach Guy Carbonneau talks about the game ahead. Clip runs 2:26.
And Philadelphia goalie Martin Biron on the 48th anniversary of Jacques Plante introducing the mask to the NHL, on playing with Daniel Brière and the big, bad Flyers, and being his team's No. 1 goalie. Clip runs 6:47.

Meanwhile, RDS's Luc Gélinas is reporting that the Canadiens have told Kyle Chipchura, Mikhail Grabovski and Carey Price that they can go apartment-hunting in Montreal, the time-honoured sign that they are staying with the Habs this season.

The Gazette's Pat Hickey reports that one of Michael Ryder's main goals this season was to improve on the minus-25 rating he had last season despite scoring 30 goals.

"Last year, we had a couple of tough breaks but we knew that, as a line, that was one of the things we wanted to improve," Ryder said. His linemates, Christopher Higgins and Saku Koivu, didn't do much better in that department last season, with Higgins a minus-11 and Koivu a minus-21.

But so far this season, it has been a complete reversal for the trio, with Ryder at even, Higgins is a plus-2 and Koivu is a plus-3.

Read Hickey's full article here.

Canadiens forward Michael Ryder credits his parents for his career in the NHL. Habs Inside/Out puckcast moderator and contributor Kevin Mio discovers this, and a lot more, in his One-On-One question-and-answer feature. See also Kevin's most recent sitdown with Canadiens defenceman Mike Komisarek.

Canadiens forward Michael Ryder is contemplating whether to continue spending his summers at home in Newfoundland and Labrador after a rash of vandalism recently. For the second straight summer, vandals attacked his home and car, including having his car fire-bombed.

"It kind of turns you away from going back there," Ryder said. "I never had any problems until the last couple of years. I want to stay at home, but stuff like this, you really don't want to deal with."

Read the rest of the article here.

Links updated at 5:20 a.m.

Forward Michael Ryder has signed a one-year contract with the Canadiens, one day before the two sides were to appear before an arbitrator. Ryder had earned $2.2 million with the club last season; his new contract will see him earn $2.95 million this year. He becomes an unrestricted free agent next July 1.

Here's the Canadiens' announcement, and today's Gazette story by Pat Hickey.

RDS is reporting that Michael Ryder's arbitration hearing will take place on Monday, the same day as the hearings for the Rangers' Sean Avery and the Capitals' Milan Jurcina.

After Derek Roy signed a 6-year, $24 million contract on Friday, and Dustin Penner received an offer sheet of $4.25 million per year, Ryder's salary is likely to double.

However, the two sides continue to negotiate and could reach a deal before Monday's hearing. Thane Campbell, Ryder's agent, said the two parties could meet on Saturday, but they are no closer than they were a week ago.