Bruins sign 3, Dallas signs Ryder

The Bruins didn't make any big moves today as free agency opened with many teams throwing money anywhere they could to sign players. Take a look at the Florida Panthers. The only "big" news around the Bruins, I guess it's big, is Michael Ryder signing a 2-year $7 million contract ($3.5 per year) with the Dallas Stars. That's a big contract for a guy who didn't really show up until the playoffs but hey winning the Stanley Cup usually brings these kind of signings for players on the winning team. Good luck Dallas, maybe he'll wake up there and play every game like he is in the playoffs. I doubt it though. Bye bye Ryder.

I shook my head and was disappointed when I heard the Bruins signed former Montreal Canadiens forward Benoit Pouliot to a one-year contract for $1.1 million. This was the guy that took a run at Johnny Boychuk and then fought Andrew Ference after it in the playoffs. He didn't play another playoff game after that. He's the guy that Jack Edwards called one of major disappointments in NHL history and now he's a Bruin. So the Bruins lose Ryder to Dallas and sign another "Michael Ryder type of player" who has talent but just doesn't show up every night or for long periods of time. He's a big guy at 6'3" and has some speed so maybe Claude Julien can get something out of him.

The 24-year-old Alfred, Ontario native played in 79 games for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010-2011 season and set a career high in points (30), assists (17) and penalty minutes (87) to go along with 13 goals. Pouliot contributed 28 goals and 25 assists in 118 contests for the Canadiens over portions of two seasons.

For his career, the 6'3", 195-pound winger has recorded 37-35-72 totals in 183 NHL games with the Minnesota Wild and Canadiens.
Source

The Bruins today also re-signed forward Trent Whitfield to a two-year contract and goaltender Anton Khudobin to a two-year contract. Both will most likely spend next season in Providence (AHL).

Comments