The New Jersey Devils have boosted their forward ranks with free agent signings, including a veteran scoring winger. Numbers Game looks at the Devils acquisition of Michael Ryder. The Devils Get: RW Michael Ryder. Ryder, 33, is a five-time 20-goal scorer who tallied 16 goals and 35 points in 46 games last season; his best per-game point production since his rookie season, 2003-2004. His 213 goals ranks 27th since 2003-2004. While Ryder can find the net, he doesnt stand out otherwise. He has played more than 17 minutes per game once in his career. His recent goal-scoring surge, 51 in 128 games over the last two seasons, tied for 11th, is due to an elevated shooting percentage. Over the last two seasons, Ryder has scored on 16.3% of his shots, fifth-best in the league, but that followed two seasons when he finished on 10.1% of his shots, and his career mark is up to 12.8%, so regression lurks around the corner. Montreal added Ryder part way through last season, in exchange for Erik Cole, gaining future financial flexibility by shedding Coles contract, but they received good production from Ryder (10 goals, 21 points in 27 games). Having signed Danny Briere as a free agent, the Canadiens have effectively found a player that they deem to be Ryders replacement. Briere signed for two years and $8-million with Montreal while Ryder has signed a two-year, $7-million deal with the Devils. Even with some falling back, Ryder should be a productive contributor for the Devils, playing in a top-six scoring role and provided that hes with players that can get him the puck, say on the wing with Patrik Elias and either Travis Zajac or Adam Henrique in the middle, but it shouldnt be shocking if Ryders production could be more in the 18-to-23-goal range for the next couple seasons. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Wholesale Jerseys China .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Cheap Jerseys . LOUIS -- St. https://www.wholesalejerseysaaa.com/ . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Wholesale Jerseys . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Wholesale Jerseys 2021 .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Fourteen years ago, Robin Uthappa, a teenage batsman who came with the reputation of being Karnatakas batting future, replaced J Arunkumar in the state side before the start of the domestic season. Arunkumar, a senior player and part of Ranji Trophy-winning sides in 1995-96, 1997-98 and 1998-99, was aggrieved and turned professional, playing for Assam and Goa before retiring in 2008. Four years later, when he took on a coaching role with Karnataka, Arunkumar found himself in the same position as the selectors were in 2002-03, having to take the brave call of dropping seniors.This decision, Arunkumar believes, has led to the renaissance of Karnataka cricket, taking them from an almost there side to back-to-back Ranji Trophy titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15. It is a process he is prepared to stick to as Karnataka look to reclaim the title they lost in 2015-16. They have begun promisingly this season, with a win and a draw from two matches.It was tough, but [there were] very conscious decisions to replace senior players like KB Pawan, Ganesh Satish and a few others, Arunkumar, who is now head coach, told ESPNcricinfo. That call was a must then because the team management was mindful of the bigger picture. By that I mean, by 26-27 if a cricketer wasnt playing for India A at least, chances of the national cap were remote. We didnt want a situation where a player is just happy playing state cricket and then going away. It was a bold decision we took when asked to present a roadmap for the state team, one that has worked wonderfully so far.Arunkumar said the decision to part with senior players put tremendous pressure on the youngsters, with some of them scrutinised on a match-by-match basis. When Arunkumar took over as batting coach before the 2012-13 season, KL Rahul was not a regular in the side. Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Gopal had not made their first-class debuts. Manish Pandey was far from national reckoning and Uthappa was struggling with form and fitness after being left out of the India team.Rahul, for example, made his first-class debut in 2010, but was dropped after three matches. It took him two more years to re-establish himself. Nair, too, failed in his first two matches. There was pressure not to give more chances, but as coach, you have to go by instinct, and I went with my heart, Arunkumar said. Even someone like Karun Nair did well in only his third game.A lot of times I have seen, and I say it from experience, that some players are slow starterrs.dddddddddddd. As a coach you have to give them the confidence. You need to be transparent and straightforward, you cant be manipulative and get away; you will be sorted otherwise. We were in fact extremely lucky to have a core group in such quick time that the two championship wins brought many of them in national focus. The national focus brought with it new challenges. The price Karnataka have paid for being so successful over the past couple of seasons is that they have lost players to the national or India A teams at various stages. While it is a matter of pride, Arunkumar said the challenge lay in handling fame and remaining grounded.Luckily were in a good position where those who have played for India realise the need to not take things lightly when they return, Arunkumar said. That is the challenge for us as coaches to bring out the best in them. There is an inclination to not give 100% sometimes, but we have given everybody ownership and authority to take their decisions, else coaches will be made to look like prison wardens. Thats what we were taught in 1995-96 when we won the Ranji Trophy.In 2015-16, Karnataka suffered from the after-effects of another aspect of national-team ambitions. Senior players Uthappa and CM Gautam had a small misunderstanding over their roles in the side because of the split wicket-keeping policy that stemmed from Uthappas desire to press his case as a keeper-batsman for India, a role he had fulfilled with Kolkata Knight Riders.CM probably missed out on an IPL contract because of that, but all that is in the past now, Arunkumar insisted. CM lost a bit of credibility because no one saw him as a wicketkeeper, but he did it for the team. Robin himself realised it was affecting team chemistry. So this season we decided to let specialists handle their own jobs.With the team set to remain on the road for the next three months, Arunkumar believes bonding between the players will be vital when wins are elusive. Theyre all mostly friends even outside the cricket ground, he said. They plan bike rides, movies, treks and outings during the off season. We all regularly meet for dinners during the season too. Were even allowed to have a couple of beers from time to time to celebrate victories. As a coach, you cant be imposing and set team rules and curfews. The boys understand where to draw the line, so its fine. ' ' '
