Mar 31, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Michael Ryder (73) before a face off against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at HP Pavilion. San Jose defeated Dallas 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

For the past few seasons, the Dallas Stars have been struggling with finding a right handed, right winger who can score and help take the pressure off of Jamie Benn, who is one of the Stars up and coming players. They were also looking to replace some of the goal scoring left by Brad Richards, who signed a huge contract with the New York Rangers.  That all changed last season when they signed Michael Ryder from the Boston Bruins to a 2 year contract as he showed not only the team but fans and critics that he can be that be a consistent goal scorer. He led the Stars in goals with 33 which was also a career high for the 32 year old Newfoundland native. It was also the first time in five years that Ryder has scored 33 goals in a season. He even showed the Stars his durability to play in all 82 games. The only other players who stayed the course as well were Vernon Fiddler and Ryder’s line mate,Loui Eriksson.

Ryder told the press during the locker room cleaning, that he is comfortable with Dallas and loves being around the city. He is also exactly what Dallas wanted: a scoring winger who has a quick release and someone who can make an immediate impact. Even Glen Gulutzan, the head coach of the Dallas Stars said good things about Ryder and his impact:

“I think it’s been a real good fit. We brought in quality individuals. They all brought in pieces of the puzzle that we were missing. Ryds brought a guy who can put the puck in the net and a right shot, something that we needed here. Our guy Joe’s done a heck of a job in addressing needs.” (Quote source: Dallas Stars Website)

Ryder has proven to the Stars that he can a be huge impact with the team. He has also proven to the NHL and critics that he can be someone who can put pucks in the back of the net. Whenever the NHL has their season back up, Ryder will also have to play with a new center man as Mike Ribeiro was traded to the Washington Capitals for Cody Eakin. How much of an impact from the loss of Riberio will effect Ryder’s game?  It will be a big but Ryder will have to learn to adjust and find a new chemistry with someone else. My guess is that Gulutzan will pair him up with Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson to make a deadly threat up top.

We all know that Ryder made a huge impact with the Dallas Stars last season. Let’s just hope when the season goes back up that he will have a great season and last season was not a fluke either. Below is a video of Michael Ryder and his scoring ability as he breaks free for the goal after Kari Lehtonen provides the slick pad save

Michael Ryder has proven to be a consistent goal scorer for the Dallas Stars. Let’s just hope we can see that again this year and beyond.

Mar 20, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Michael Ryder (73) celebrates his second goal against Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (not pictured) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

Michael Ryder was fresh off of a Stanley Cup winning season with the Boston Bruins when he decided to take his talents to the Dallas Stars in the summer of 2011, a team that hadn’t made the playoffs for three straight seasons and stood on shaky financial ground without an owner. Furthermore, the right winger took a $500,000 pay cut per year, accepting a two-year $7 million contract. The attraction to an otherwise underwhelming hockey market in Dallas was the opportunity to play top minutes that he likely wouldn’t get elsewhere. Ryder had been a 30 goal scorer twice before in his career, hitting the mark with the Montreal Canadiens, but couldn’t replicate the success with the Boston Bruins, where he scored just 18 goals in each of his final two years with the team. The Stars were desperate for top six talent and scoring and the gamble made sense for the team, especially with the discounted price. Ryder was a question mark for the 2011-2012 season but sitting here over a year later, it’s safe to say that Michael Ryder lived up to every expectation and surpassed most of them.

Some of the more notable free agent signings in Dallas Stars history, like Brett Hull and Bill Guerin, can’t say they had the type of season in their first year with the organization that Michael Ryder had. His 35 goals were first on the team (and the most scored by a Dallas Stars since 2008-2009) and his 62 points were good for fourth. His shooting percentage of 16.6% was an absurd number unmatched by any other Stars player. It’s no surprise that his most consistent linemates, Loui Eriksson and Mike Ribeiro, were the team’s top two scorers. The line was the most successful the Stars had last season; when they were hot, the team was winning. Unfortunately, on a team as short on depth as the Dallas Stars were, whenever they struggled, the team followed suit and suffered greatly. There’s only so much Jamie Benn can do.

One of the most important questions for the 2012-2013 season (assuming there is one) is if Ryder can strike gold two years in a row. It’s unlikely Ryder is going to match that 16.6% shooting percentage and as such, it’s unlikely he’ll hit 35 goals again, but can he reach 30? His most likely linemates will be Ray Whitney and Derek Roy, two excellent playmakers who could provide Ryder with the chance to be the team’s leading goal scorer once again. The signing was one of the biggest HITS of the season, but whether or not Ryder can make it one of the best Dallas Stars signings in recent memory remains to be seen. Joe Nieuwendyk has given Ryder better players to surround himself with while expecting him to remain a staple in the top six. Success is his for the taking and we’re all anxious to see if he can step up to the challenge.

Enjoy some Michael Ryder highlights:

Goal versus Philadelphia.

Ryder splits the San Jose Defense.

Toe drag and snipe versus St. Louis.

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