Here is Eric Engels comments on the trade.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT

Every trade has to have a winner or a loser, but when two 35-goal scorers switch teams, it’s hard to call either of them a loser. And that’s purely from a hockey perspective because from a business perspective, it’s crystal clear as to who won this deal.

Erik Cole’s nine million dollars until 2015 are now on Dallas’ books, while the Canadiens have reacquired a Michael Ryder who makes a million less on a contract that expires at season’s end.

Back to the hockey side of things, Dallas will benefit from Cole’s leadership, his work ethic, his energy, and yes, even his scoring. His 35 goals last season are nothing to scoff at, in spite of his slow start to this season. This is a proven player who brings more in his all around game at 5-on-5 than Ryder did for the Stars, and there’s reason to believe Cole’s ready to start filling the net at a more respectable pace.

There’s no disputing the reality that the Canadiens got the best out of Cole in year one of a four-year deal that would fall under heavier scrutiny with each passing game over the course of the next two and a half seasons.

And maybe the Stars got the best out of Ryder in year one of his two-year contract. Scoring 35 goals for 3.5 million dollars is even better value than what Cole gave the Canadiens last year.

But Ryder’s erased the notion that his production would dwindle with Mike Ribiero’s trade to Washington, as he’s collected 14 points in 19 games. And while the six goals are double what Cole’s delivered, the Canadiens benefit most from what Ryder will bring to their powerplay; a loaded gun on the left side.

And then there’s the durability factor. Ryder has appeared in 650 NHL games out of a possible 675. That’s freakish! Cole, like Ryder, played all 82 games last year and all 19 this year, but missed 116 games to injury throughout his career. Ryder is also two years younger than Cole.

There’s no way of knowing where Ryder or Cole will find chemistry with their new teams, or even if they will, but Ryder returns to familiar territory, where he succeeded mightily.

I’m not ignoring the bad that pushed Ryder out of Montreal. His work ethic often came under question when he was here, as did his hockey sense. His defensive play left much to be desired. But Ryder’s been through a lot since his last days with Montreal, and he’s managed to produce quite consistently throughout his career.

Ryder, an eigth-round selection in 1999, was elevated from the ECHL to the AHL and inevitably given a chance to cement himself as an NHL mainstay by Claude Julien, then coach of the Canadiens, he who had also tutored the young sniper in the QMJHL with Hull. He repaid Julien and the Canadiens with 207 points in 314 games, 99 of which were goals. He was an overwhelming -24 over that period of time, but over the four and a half seasons with Boston and Dallas, he managed an incredible +47.

And then there’s the matter of Marc Bergevin getting the Stars to throw a third-round pick his way.

Ryder’s expected to make his debut in Toronto and Cole’s already left for Dallas. The Canadiens have to be thankful for what Cole brought to them over his time here, but ultimately, Bergevin’s timing on this trade couldn’t have been better. The Canadiens sit first in the conference, and the GM has given the coach a new ingredient to add to the mix. The team’s excelled despite Cole’s lethargy, and if Ryder can maintain the pace he started on in Dallas, that’s a major short-term bonus.

Long-term, the Canadiens have cleared significant room off the cap and bolstered their draft arsenal without negatively impacting the team’s current standing.

It’s not a loss for Dallas, but it’s a huge win for the Canadiens.