Kritik und Lob » t a muscular point guard out of Webe

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. Air Max Australia Onine . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Wholesale Air Max Australia . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. http://www.australiacheapairmax.com/ . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Air Max Australia . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Air Max Australia Cheap The Cleveland Cavaliers are on top of the NBA draft yet again, only this time there is no LeBron James waiting to save them. There may not even be a Kyrie Irving. The first big NBA draft question was answered Tuesday night when the Cavaliers won the lottery for the second time in three years. But there are still plenty of questions left with a draft that many talent evaluators believe lacks the star power of previous years. And they start right at the top. There is no consensus No. 1 selection. Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel may come the closest, but he is recovering from a torn ACL that will likely keep him out until at least December. Kansas guard Ben McLemore, Indiana guard Victor Oladipo and Georgetown forward Otto Porter also are considered some of the top players in the draft. "I think its a balanced draft," new Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said. "You dont have an Alonzo Mourning, a Patrick Ewing, a guy like Derrick Rose, Shaquille ONeal. You dont have that one player that might single-handedly change the face of the franchise. Its going to be a draft where you might see a player at taken at 12 that some other team might take at No. 6." Observations like that one are common, leading some to label the draft weak. Saunders is among several executives and talent evaluators who disagree with that characterization, instead taking encouragement from the overall depth. "There isnt a player that has wowed or completely dominated college or international ball to create that buzz or whatever," said Ryan Blake, the NBAs senior director of scouting operations. "We have a bucket load of really good players that are going to make an impact immediately." Noel is the wild card that could shape the rest of the draft. The 6-foot-10 centre from Kentucky was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country, but he tore the ACL in his left knee Feb. 12, giving him just over half of a season of college experience before coming to the pros. He hopes to make his NBA debut sometime in December, but some teams could be concerned after watching Rose sit out the entire season with the same injury. "We havent seen him in three or four months and were not going to see him in another three or four months," Blake said. "That can be disturbing." The Cavs certainly could use a young big man to bring into a promising core that includes Irving, Dion Waiters and Tristan&nbssp;Thompson.dddddddddddd Getting a natural shot-blocker and gifted rebounder like Noel could round out that group very nicely. A knock-down shooter like McLemore or a versatile forward like Porter would also fill some needs for a team that is desperate to get back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. The Orlando Magic sit in the No. 2 spot, still in full-on rebuilding mode after trading Dwight Howard to the Lakers before last season. If the Cavs go in another direction, the Magic could grab Noel to put alongside young centre Nikola Vucevic for an imposing new-age frontcourt. "They say this draft isnt running over with great talent, but believe me, there will be eight or 10 players from the draft, youll look back and say they had really good careers," Magic senior vice-president Pat Williams said after losing the No. 1 spot to the Cavaliers in the lottery. "Were very pleased. Obviously, we came here to win it, because we have a history and wanted to keep it going. But, everybody is very pleased with the second pick." And just because this class is lacking a star who became a household name last season in the NCAA tournament doesnt mean there isnt one to be found. Last year at this time few knew much about a muscular point guard out of Weber State named Damian Lillard. The 6-foot-3 Lillard played four years in college, which has become more of a liability than an asset for players at the top of the draft these days. The Portland Trail Blazers grabbed him with the sixth overall pick, and he wound up as the unanimous rookie of the year and a player heralded as a cornerstone for the franchise moving forward. "I dont think anybody expected when Portland was picking at six last year that theyd have the unanimous rookie of the year," said Saunders, whose Timberwolves have the ninth overall choice. Teams looking to add big men will find plenty in this draft, including Noel, Indianas Cody Zeller, Marylands Alex Len, Gonzagas Kelly Olynyk, Louisvilles Gorqui Dieng and Pitts Steven Adams. And as the draft moves on into the late first round, promising prospects like Michigans Tim Hardaway, Jr., Miamis Shane Larkin and Russias Sergey Karasev are there for the taking. "Some teams want to hit that home run," Blake said. "Theyre going to take a chance. But no matter what you get in this deep draft, youre going to have guys that come in and can be a 10-point, 10-rebound guys for 10 years." ' ' '