It's turning into a forgettable season for one hockey family.
Michael Ryder has it made, right? He's no household name. But with two 30-goal seasons in Montreal, Ryder is a genuine pro, living the NHL dream.
One look at Thursday's roster is a reminder of how precarious that perch can be.
Ryder, who has missed only two games since he broke in with the Canadiens in 2003, shouldn't have been surprised by coach Guy Carbonneau's decision to bench him...
"It's frustrating, because I've never gone through a slump like this," said Ryder, adding he has had difficulty adjusting to different linemates and reduced playing time. Ryder has scored only three goals and hasn't found the back of the net since Nov. 16.
Maybe the slump is temporary; or maybe not. "Established" NHLers lose their jobs every year, disappearing quickly and quietly. It wasn't so long ago that Jeff Friesen was scoring 50 points, and Robert Esche was good enough for the US Olympic team.
Meanwhile, the game appears to be turning sour for Michael Ryder's kid brother:
The general manager of the Calgary Flames is hopeful Daniel Ryder will eventually return to the organization, but Darryl Sutter makes it clear the longer the rookie pro sits in a self-imposed hockey exile, the more difficult it will be for him to follow his older brother to the National Hockey League...
The 20-year-old product of Bonavista walked out on the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate in Quad City, Ill, (in October), just six games into his pro career.
As of November, when the report appeared, nobody would say what the problem is, though the article notes several "red flags" in an otherwise outstanding junior career.
With a story like this, fans are often quick to assume that the kid is lazy, undisciplined, or "troubled." But we should also consider the possibility that the hockey dream, with its pressures, nomadic lifestyle and brutal rate of attrition, simply isn't for everyone.
(Photo: Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
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